Soaring temperatures have gripped parts of Europe, which barely recovered from its last heatwave.
As a result, droughts and forest fires have hit Spain and Portugal and the scorching heat has spread to France and the UK. Temperatures are set to peak on Thursday, July 14, 2022, in France and Spain. Already, authorities have cancelled traditional fireworks displays on France’s national day to reduce the risk of fires.
Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting because of climate change. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began.
Extreme heat in Northern Spain
In Spain, report suggest that the heat sweeping across Spain is unusual in that it is affecting almost the whole of the country.
High temperatures are often registered in the summer months, particularly in the Southern and Central areas of the country. In this heatwave, communities such as Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura, are all seeing temperatures in the low 40s Celsius since the start of the week. However, Northern Spain, which usually avoids extreme temperatures, is also being hit, with the North-Western region of Galicia (a community in Spain) on red alert, being the highest category, as it braces itself for temperatures of up to 42C in the Miño valley (a non-profit safe haven for rescued farmed animals).
Still, in Spain, another 13 regions are on orange or yellow alert. Temperatures are expected to keep rising in many areas over the next two days. The North-Eastern city of Zaragoza is forecast to see temperatures of up to 42C, while Badajoz, in the South-West, could register up to 47C on Thursday, July 14, 2022.
Additionally, air quality is poor in many areas across the North because of the heat. That adds to existing health concerns caused by the hot weather, which means that the streets of towns and villages tend to be much quieter in the afternoon. Officials said with the heatwave expected to continue into the weekend, it could break records in terms of length if it goes on into next week.
Soaring Temperatures Across Portugal
Elsewhere in Portugal, officials disclosed that an unprecedented 80% of the country’s mainland is at “exceptional” risk of fires, according to the national meteorological institute, the Portuguese Institute for the Ocean and Atmosphere (IPMA).
The government has put the whole of the mainland under a “state of contingency” until Friday, July 15, 2022, which is one notch above “state of alert” and the second-highest of three levels, which could trigger local, regional and national responses. Additionally, the government has put Police and other forces at the ready and released funds to hire more firefighters.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, there were 849 firefighters in action at the scene of 30 fires, only three of which were deemed not under control. Several major fires burning over the weekend have been extinguished or brought under control, though not before consuming thousands of hectares of forest. But conditions are expected to gradually worsen between now and Thursday, July 14, 2022, as temperatures soar and winds are seen picking up at night in some areas. The IPMA forecasts maximum temperatures as high as 47C in the coming days.
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