The heat was so intense that there were few protocol changes on England’s sophisticated Royal Ascot Racecourse: guests were allowed to wear hats and jackets when members of the royal family died.
“Avoid excessive sun exposure, moisturize and take care of the most vulnerable so that they do not suffer from heat stroke,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at a desertification event in Madrid.
The farm lobby says the drought in northern Italy risks losing half of its agricultural output as lakes and rivers begin to deteriorate dangerously, threatening irrigation.
The Italian utilities consortium Utilitalia warned this week that the country’s longest river, Po, was experiencing the worst drought in 70 years, causing many of the vast northern waterways to dry up completely.
The heat wave has increased pressure on energy systems as demand for air conditioning threatens to push up prices, increasing stockpiling to protect against any further cuts in Russian gas supplies.
“Health risks”
In France, a local official said public events, including concerts and indoors without air conditioning, were banned in the province of Gironde around Bordeaux.
“Everyone is now facing health risks,” Fabien Buccio, governor of Gironde, told France Bleu.
Temperatures in many parts of France reached 40 degrees Celsius for the first time this year on Thursday, and are expected to peak on Saturday, rising to 41-42 degrees Celsius. In southern France, Tarascon has a June night temperature record of 26.8 degrees Celsius.
14 administrative units were given increased readiness and pupils were invited to stay in these areas. Speed limits have been lowered in a number of regions, including around Paris, to reduce exhaust emissions and harmful smog.
The British Meteorological Authority said Friday was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures in some parts of the south-east above 32 degrees Celsius.
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Parks, pools and beaches were crowded, and while many enjoyed a day of fun and freedom after two years of periodic pandemic restrictions, some were concerned.
“I’m from Cyprus and now it’s raining in Cyprus” and I’m boiling here, so something needs to change. We need to take precautions against climate change sooner rather than later, because that is clearly a concern for us all, ”he said. . Student Charlie Oxel is visiting Brighton, south London.
“Now we enjoy it, but in the long run we can sacrifice.”
Mediterranean countries are increasingly interested in how climate change will affect their economies and lives.
“The Iberian Peninsula is an increasingly drier region, with our rivers flowing more slowly,” added Spanish leader Sanchez.
Firefighters are fighting wildfires in several parts of Spain, with Catalonia in eastern Spain and Zamora on the western border with Portugal hardest hit.
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Zamora became ash from 8,500 to 9,500 hectares.
The hot air cloud escaped Portugal on Friday because temperatures were not as high as in other European countries, and Lisbon is likely to reach 27 degrees Celsius.
The Portuguese meteorological agency IPMA said last month was the hottest in 92 years. And she warned that most lands are suffering from severe drought.
The water level in reservoirs in Portugal is falling and the Bravoras dam is only 15% full.
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