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Summer's second heatwave set to break records across Europe Summer's second heatwave set to break records across Europe
(32 minutes later)
All-time temperature records are set to be broken in major cities across Europe on Thursday as the second extreme heatwave in consecutive months to be linked by scientists to the climate emergency grips the continent. The Netherlands and Belgium have recorded their highest ever temperatures as the second extreme heatwave in consecutive months to be linked by scientists to the climate emergency advances across the continent.
“The most extreme heat will build from central and northern France into Belgium, the Netherlands and far-western Germany” from Wednesday, said Eric Leister of the forecasting group AccuWeather. The Dutch meteorological service, KNMI, said the temperature reached 38.8C (102F) at Gilze-Rijen airbase near the southern city of Tilburg at 3pm on Wednesday, exceeding the previous high of 38.6C set in August 1944.
After several cities in France recorded their highest ever temperatures on Tuesday, including Bordeaux which hit 41.2C, the national weather service Metéo France said Paris was predicted to beat its all-time high of 40.4C – set in July 1947 – on Thursday with a forecast 42C. In Belgium, the temperature in Kleine-Brogel hit 38.9C, fractionally higher than the previous record of 38.8C dating to June 1947. Forecasters said temperatures could climb further on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
Highs exceeding 38C and 39C in Amsterdam and Brussels could also threaten records in those cities, national forecasters said, with the all-time Dutch and Belgian records of 38.6C, set in August 1944, and 38.8C, set in June 1947, also likely to fall. “The most extreme heat will build from central and northern France into Belgium, the Netherlands and far-western Germany into Thursday,” said Eric Leister of the forecasting group AccuWeather, with new all-time highs possible in Germany and Luxembourg.
The current heatwave, caused by an “omega block”, a high-pressure pattern that blocks and diverts the jet stream, allowing a mass of hot air to flow up from northern Africa and the Iberian peninsula, follows a similar extreme weather event last month which made it the hottest June on record. After several cities in France broke all previous temperature records on Tuesday, including Bordeaux, which hit 41.2C, the national weather service, Météo France, said Paris was likely to beat its all-time high of 40.4C, set in July 1947, on Thursday with 42C.
The highest June temperatures ever were recorded in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Andorra, Luxembourg, Poland and Germany, while France registered its highest ever temperature of 45.9C in the southern commune of Gallargues-le-Montueux. City records in Amsterdam and Brussels are also expected to fall. Cities are particularly vulnerable in heatwaves because of a phenomenon known as the urban heat island, in which concrete buildings and asphalt roads absorb heat during the day and emit it at again night, preventing the city from cooling.
Clare Nullis, a World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman, said the heatwaves bore “the hallmark of climate change”. The extreme events were “becoming more frequent, they’re starting earlier and they’re becoming more intense,” Nullis said. “It’s not a problem that’s going to go away.” The latest heatwave, caused by an “omega block” – a high-pressure pattern that blocks and diverts the jet stream, allowing a mass of hot air to flow up from northern Africa and the Iberian peninsula – follows a similar extreme weather event last month that made it the hottest June on record.
The highest ever June temperatures were recorded in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Andorra, Luxembourg, Poland and Germany, while France registered a record high of 45.9C in the southern commune of Gallargues-le-Montueux.
Clare Nullis, a World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman, said the heatwaves bore the “hallmark of climate change”. The extreme events were “becoming more frequent, they’re starting earlier and they’re becoming more intense,” Nullis said. “It’s not a problem that’s going to go away.”
The 26-28 June heatwave in France was 4C hotter than a June heatwave would have been in 1900, according to World Weather Attribution, a new international programme helping the scientific community to analyse the possible influence of climate change on extreme weather events.The 26-28 June heatwave in France was 4C hotter than a June heatwave would have been in 1900, according to World Weather Attribution, a new international programme helping the scientific community to analyse the possible influence of climate change on extreme weather events.
A study published earlier this year by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich said last year’s summer heatwave across northern Europe would have been “statistically impossible” without climate change driven by human activity.A study published earlier this year by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich said last year’s summer heatwave across northern Europe would have been “statistically impossible” without climate change driven by human activity.
Cities are particularly vulnerable in heatwaves because of a phenomenon known as the urban heat island, in which concrete buildings and asphalt roads absorb heat during the day and emit it at again night, preventing the city from ever cooling.
The Dutch KNMI weather service has has issued a code orange extreme temperature warning for everywhere except the offshore Wadden Islands and implemented its “national heat emergency” plan, while Belgium has taken the unprecedented step of placing the entire country on a code red warning.The Dutch KNMI weather service has has issued a code orange extreme temperature warning for everywhere except the offshore Wadden Islands and implemented its “national heat emergency” plan, while Belgium has taken the unprecedented step of placing the entire country on a code red warning.
Spain has also declared a red alert in the Zaragoza region, hit by its worst wildfires in 20 years last month. The EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service warned of an “extreme danger” of further forest fires in France and Spain on Thursday, with a “high” or “very high” threat level in Portugal, Italy, Belgium and Germany.Spain has also declared a red alert in the Zaragoza region, hit by its worst wildfires in 20 years last month. The EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service warned of an “extreme danger” of further forest fires in France and Spain on Thursday, with a “high” or “very high” threat level in Portugal, Italy, Belgium and Germany.
Météo France said the conditions “require particular care, notably for vulnerable or exposed people”. Britain’s Met Office issued similar advice and said the UK all-time high of 38.5C, recorded in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003, could also be exceeded on Thursday. Twenty French départements were also placed on red alert. “Nobody is immune in the face of such extreme temperatures,” said the health minister, Agnès Buzyn. “There are risks even if you are not particularly vulnerable.” Britain’s Met Office issued similar advice and said the UK all-time high of 38.5C, recorded in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003, could also be exceeded on Thursday.
Local authorities in France have placed restrictions on water usage in 73 out of the country’s 96 départements following dramatic falls in ground and river water levels. “It’s tricky but under control, but we need to be very vigilant,” the junior environment minister, Emmanuelle Wargon, said.Local authorities in France have placed restrictions on water usage in 73 out of the country’s 96 départements following dramatic falls in ground and river water levels. “It’s tricky but under control, but we need to be very vigilant,” the junior environment minister, Emmanuelle Wargon, said.
The French energy giant EDF said it was shutting down two reactors at its Golfech nuclear power plant in the southern Tarn-et-Garonne region in order to limit the heating of water used to keep the reactors cool.The French energy giant EDF said it was shutting down two reactors at its Golfech nuclear power plant in the southern Tarn-et-Garonne region in order to limit the heating of water used to keep the reactors cool.
Scientists have said such heatwaves are closely linked to the climate emergency and will be many times more likely over the coming decades.Scientists have said such heatwaves are closely linked to the climate emergency and will be many times more likely over the coming decades.
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said last month that Europe’s five hottest summers since 1500 had all occurred in the 21st century, in 2018, 2010, 2003, 2016 and 2002.The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said last month that Europe’s five hottest summers since 1500 had all occurred in the 21st century, in 2018, 2010, 2003, 2016 and 2002.
Monthly records were now falling five times as often as they would in a stable climate, the institute said, adding this was “a consequence of global warming caused by the increasing greenhouse gases from burning coal, oil and gas”.Monthly records were now falling five times as often as they would in a stable climate, the institute said, adding this was “a consequence of global warming caused by the increasing greenhouse gases from burning coal, oil and gas”.
Extreme weatherExtreme weather
Europe (Weather)Europe (Weather)
Europe (World news)Europe (World news)
Climate change (Science)Climate change (Science)
Climate change (Environment)Climate change (Environment)
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