In some places, the heat wave has led to temperatures of ten degrees higher than normal at this time of year.
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The heat wave has come abnormally early this year. Warm air has traveled north from North Africa as a result of high pressure over the Mediterranean. Dry soil and intensified high pressure over southwestern Europe have pushed temperatures up further, he writes The Guardian.
France and Spain in particular have been hit hard by the heat wave. According to The Guardian, temperatures in some places have been 10 degrees above the average for this time of year.
France has had its warmest May ever and in Spain it has not been warmer in May in 100 years. Both countries have seen temperatures of over 40 degrees this week.
The Washington Post writes that temperatures will reach a peak on Saturday in France and Sunday in Germany. However, Spain, Poland and Austria will experience unusually high temperatures in the next few days.
50 degrees is possible
High temperatures, wind and thunderstorms have led to several forest fires in Spain in the last week. In Catalonia, three forest fires have destroyed 1,600 hectares, according to the news agency Reuters.
On Friday, 650 people from eight villages were evacuated from a forest fire in northwestern Spain. There is a great danger of forest fires in large parts of the country, according to AP News.
–– Spain, together with other parts of southern Europe, may be worst affected by climate change. We are now in the middle of June and we already have a heat wave. At present we can not say whether we will reach 50 degrees, but it is possible, says meteorologist Ruben Del Campo at the Spanish Meteorological Institute Aemet to Euronews.
– Another effect may be drought. Forest fires are not caused by climate change. But high temperatures, wind and lack of moisture mean that forest fires are more difficult to control.
– Just the beginning
On Friday, the French Meteorological Institute issued a warning for heat waves in a total of 14 regions. The lowest temperature measured on Friday was as high as 26 degrees. The temperatures in the warmest regions have varied up to 40 degrees.
– The intense heat wave that has hit France has come earlier than ever, the institute writes.
–Scottish meteorologist Scott Duncan slices on Twitter that France has never experienced reaching a temperature of 40 degrees so early, since they started logging temperatures.
– This is just the beginning of one of the most extensive heat waves in French history. An enormous number of records will fall, he writes.
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has issued a warning Twitter:
– Be careful! Stay hydrated, stay cool, give and keep in touch with those close to you.
A separate telephone line has been set up for those who experience discomfort as a result of the heat.
–Continue northeast
The Washington Post writes that some places in Poland, Austria and possibly also Russia and Ukraine will experience unusually high temperatures early next week.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute is writing Twitter that the heat wave in Europe continues further northeast during the weekend:
– We have already seen high temperatures in Spain and the south of France. This weekend the temperature in Paris and Berlin can creep up to 40 degrees.
According to The Washington Post, temperatures in Paris and Berlin will reach 38 and 35 degrees, respectively.
Friday was the hottest day of the year measured in England, with 32 degrees London. The authorities have issued a danger warning for heat waves.
The organizers of the traditional horse race Royal Ascott saw themselves on Friday forced to drop some of the strict rules for the dress code. According to The Guardian, men were allowed to take off their hats and jackets – and spectators were allowed to bring water and soft drinks.
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