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| Paris Records Its Hottest Day as Heat Wave Scorches Europe | Paris Records Its Hottest Day as Heat Wave Scorches Europe |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — It has never in recorded history been hotter in Paris than on Thursday. | LONDON — It has never in recorded history been hotter in Paris than on Thursday. |
| The same thing happened in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, as temperatures rose and records tumbled one by one across Western Europe, scorching the continent and sending residents scrambling to seek relief from a dangerous heat wave. | |
| In Paris, a record set in 1947 was broken on Thursday when the temperature soared to 41 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit). In the Netherlands, temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), breaking the record set only a day earlier, the Dutch meteorology institute KNMI said. Lingen, a northwest German town, hit 41.5 Celsius (106.7 Fahrenheit). | |
| For the second day in a row, the heat broke the record for highest temperature ever measured in Belgium, hitting 40.6 Celsius in Kleine Brogel on Thursday, a day after a high of 40.2 Celsius was recorded and days after the authorities issued a code red alert for the first time since the weather warning system was put in place 20 years ago. | |
| “It’s really shocking to have this heat in Brussels,” said Francesca Van Daele, a student of political science at the Free University of Brussels-VUB. “Our urban planning is not really made for heat waves like this.” | “It’s really shocking to have this heat in Brussels,” said Francesca Van Daele, a student of political science at the Free University of Brussels-VUB. “Our urban planning is not really made for heat waves like this.” |
| Scientists say the hottest summers in Europe in the past 500 years have all come in the past 17 years. Several of the heat waves have been linked to human-caused climate change. In the years ahead, they say, many more are likely to scorch temperate zones. | Scientists say the hottest summers in Europe in the past 500 years have all come in the past 17 years. Several of the heat waves have been linked to human-caused climate change. In the years ahead, they say, many more are likely to scorch temperate zones. |
| The heat wave in Paris beat the previous high mark, 40.4 degrees Celsius, according to the French national weather service. Some 20 million people in northern France were expected to be affected by the heat, and a record 20 subdivisions were placed on red alert, the highest level. | |
| On Wednesday, Belgium and Germany surpassed their record highs. The northwestern German city of Geilenkirchen reached 40.5 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit), the weather service reported, while Belgium reached 40.2 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). | |
| The No. 1 trending term on Twitter earlier on Thursday in Britain was #hottestdayoftheyear, as the national weather service, the Met Office, warned that temperatures were expected to break the national record, 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3 Fahrenheit). The capital, London, reached 37.7 degrees Celsius (99.8 Fahrenheit), the second-hottest day on record, according to the weather service. | |
| Liz Bentley, the chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said by phone on Wednesday that the heat wave that had been building across Europe all week worried her. | Liz Bentley, the chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said by phone on Wednesday that the heat wave that had been building across Europe all week worried her. |
| “It is very unusual for us to have these temperatures,” she said, adding that as the heat became more common, Britain would need to adapt its transportation system and its residences, where air-conditioners are uncommon. | “It is very unusual for us to have these temperatures,” she said, adding that as the heat became more common, Britain would need to adapt its transportation system and its residences, where air-conditioners are uncommon. |
| The Met Office placed five of England’s nine regions, including London, on a rare Level 3 heat health watch — one short of a national emergency. In a Twitter post on Thursday, London’s ambulance service advised Britons to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, wear sunscreen and avoid traveling by train if they feel unwell. | The Met Office placed five of England’s nine regions, including London, on a rare Level 3 heat health watch — one short of a national emergency. In a Twitter post on Thursday, London’s ambulance service advised Britons to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, wear sunscreen and avoid traveling by train if they feel unwell. |
| Owen Landeg, the chief environmental public health scientist at Public Health England, warned that extremely high temperatures were most likely to affect older people, those with underlying health conditions and very young children. | Owen Landeg, the chief environmental public health scientist at Public Health England, warned that extremely high temperatures were most likely to affect older people, those with underlying health conditions and very young children. |
| “The extreme heat means that our bodies, especially our hearts and lungs, have to work harder to maintain a normal temperature,” he said on Wednesday in a statement. “This is why our advice focuses on reminding people to keep an eye on those who are most at risk.” | “The extreme heat means that our bodies, especially our hearts and lungs, have to work harder to maintain a normal temperature,” he said on Wednesday in a statement. “This is why our advice focuses on reminding people to keep an eye on those who are most at risk.” |
| Almost 3,000 people were admitted to British hospitals “because of heat-related ailments” like heatstroke and sunburn in the 2017-18 operating year, the National Health Service said on Wednesday. | Almost 3,000 people were admitted to British hospitals “because of heat-related ailments” like heatstroke and sunburn in the 2017-18 operating year, the National Health Service said on Wednesday. |
| The British authorities also warned that travel disruptions were likely on Thursday. | The British authorities also warned that travel disruptions were likely on Thursday. |
| “Disruption into London today,” Network Rail, which manages most of the British rail network, said on Twitter on Thursday. “In a #heatwave steel tracks expand and buckle under stress, causing further delays.” | “Disruption into London today,” Network Rail, which manages most of the British rail network, said on Twitter on Thursday. “In a #heatwave steel tracks expand and buckle under stress, causing further delays.” |
| In Germany, officials expected higher temperatures in the west on Thursday, and all but the northeastern coastal region was under a heat warning, with officials urging people to drink enough fluids and avoid going outdoors in the afternoon hours. | In Germany, officials expected higher temperatures in the west on Thursday, and all but the northeastern coastal region was under a heat warning, with officials urging people to drink enough fluids and avoid going outdoors in the afternoon hours. |
| The famed Wagner opera festival was set to open as scheduled on Thursday in the southern city of Bayreuth, where temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93.2). But it will be even hotter inside the 19th-century opera house, where air-conditioning was rejected over fears that it would negatively alter the acoustics and endanger the singers’ voices. Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to be in the crowd for the opening performance of “Tannhäuser,” which is more than four hours long. | The famed Wagner opera festival was set to open as scheduled on Thursday in the southern city of Bayreuth, where temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93.2). But it will be even hotter inside the 19th-century opera house, where air-conditioning was rejected over fears that it would negatively alter the acoustics and endanger the singers’ voices. Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to be in the crowd for the opening performance of “Tannhäuser,” which is more than four hours long. |
| In Spain, the forecast was for temperatures to fall across the country Thursday night, with rain in the northwest. The same was expected in Portugal, where no major fires were burning. | In Spain, the forecast was for temperatures to fall across the country Thursday night, with rain in the northwest. The same was expected in Portugal, where no major fires were burning. |
| In Austria, the national railway service began painting stretches of track in white, in hopes of preventing them from getting so hot that they bend. Similar projects were taking place in parts of Germany and Switzerland. | In Austria, the national railway service began painting stretches of track in white, in hopes of preventing them from getting so hot that they bend. Similar projects were taking place in parts of Germany and Switzerland. |
| A Eurostar train broke down Wednesday morning in Tubize, Belgium, en route to London from Brussels. Despite the heat, passengers were not allowed to open windows or leave the train for three hours because of safety concerns. | A Eurostar train broke down Wednesday morning in Tubize, Belgium, en route to London from Brussels. Despite the heat, passengers were not allowed to open windows or leave the train for three hours because of safety concerns. |
| “Everything was suddenly down. No air conditioning, no electricity,” said Paul De Grauwe, a Belgian economist who was on the train. “I have never been so hot in my life.” | “Everything was suddenly down. No air conditioning, no electricity,” said Paul De Grauwe, a Belgian economist who was on the train. “I have never been so hot in my life.” |
| Such high temperatures are rare in Belgium, but are becoming more typical, experts say. In the 1990s and 2000s, heat waves of this magnitude occurred once every three or four years, but Belgium has experienced two heat waves in the past two months alone. | Such high temperatures are rare in Belgium, but are becoming more typical, experts say. In the 1990s and 2000s, heat waves of this magnitude occurred once every three or four years, but Belgium has experienced two heat waves in the past two months alone. |
| “Heat waves are extreme weather events, but research shows that with climate change, they are likely to become more common, perhaps occurring as regularly as every other year,” Nicky Maxey, a spokeswoman for the Met Office in Britain, said in an email. | “Heat waves are extreme weather events, but research shows that with climate change, they are likely to become more common, perhaps occurring as regularly as every other year,” Nicky Maxey, a spokeswoman for the Met Office in Britain, said in an email. |
| She said that a Met Office study into the heat wave that Britain experienced last summer showed it was 30 times more likely for a heat wave to occur now than in 1750 “because of the higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.” | She said that a Met Office study into the heat wave that Britain experienced last summer showed it was 30 times more likely for a heat wave to occur now than in 1750 “because of the higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.” |
| The weather has led to some odd sights in London. | The weather has led to some odd sights in London. |
| After a sweating man in a half-unbuttoned, pink-striped shirt opened a window in a crowded subway car on Wednesday, sweltering commuters made rare, intentional eye contact, trading looks of approval and relief. | After a sweating man in a half-unbuttoned, pink-striped shirt opened a window in a crowded subway car on Wednesday, sweltering commuters made rare, intentional eye contact, trading looks of approval and relief. |
| And on the outskirts of Hampstead Heath, a vast park in northwestern London, hundreds of people flocked to a greenish pond to seek relief on Thursday, blissfully sunbathing, picnicking, reading or listening to music. Dozens insisted on splashing in the pond, even after an announcement that broken bottles posed a danger to swimmers. | |
| “On days like today, I can almost excuse climate change,” Hylston Chambers, 52, said with a smile. | “On days like today, I can almost excuse climate change,” Hylston Chambers, 52, said with a smile. |
| Eliza Smith, 22, said she had gone at 7:30 a.m. to a pond where swimming was allowed in an effort to beat the crowd, but she was too late. She said she waited three hours to get into the water, but left. | |
| Ms. Smith and Charlie Edmonds, a 22-year-old freelance choreographer, decided to spend the rest of the day at the Hampstead Heath ponds instead. | |
| “I’m sweating like crazy, but I’m pleased it’s hot in England,” Ms. Edmonds said. | |
| The Met Office forecast a break in the heat wave: After peaking on Thursday, temperatures are expected to cool on Friday, Frank Saunders, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, has said. | |
| “Conditions will feel much more comfortable for western parts of the U.K. by the time we get to Friday,” he said on Wednesday. | “Conditions will feel much more comfortable for western parts of the U.K. by the time we get to Friday,” he said on Wednesday. |
| The Met Office has even put out a thunderstorm warning. | The Met Office has even put out a thunderstorm warning. |