A powerful “Omega” heatwave continued to grip Western Europe on Wednesday, breaking temperature records, disrupting daily life, and contributing to dozens of deaths as forecasters warned the dangerous conditions could persist through the end of the week.
Britain recorded its hottest June day on record, with temperatures reaching 96.98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 Celsius) in southern England, surpassing the previous June record set in 1957 and matched in 1976.
France also set new records, with Paris reaching 105.6 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 Celsius), while the country recorded its hottest day since weather records began nearly 80 years ago when temperatures climbed to 111.7 degrees (44.3 Celsius) in the southwestern town of Pissos.
Authorities said at least 48 people in France have drowned since the heatwave began while attempting to cool off, and two young children died after being left in a hot vehicle. In Spain, two elderly people died from heatstroke after several days of temperatures above 104 degrees (40 Celsius).
Italy placed 16 cities, including Rome, Milan, Florence and Turin, under its highest heat alert, warning that temperatures could peak over the weekend.
The extreme weather is being driven by an “Omega block,” a high-pressure weather pattern that traps hot air over the region and pushes temperatures as much as 18 degrees Celsius above normal. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of prolonged heat events across Europe, which is warming more than twice as fast as the global average.
The heat disrupted transportation, power generation, and tourism. Schools closed or shortened class days in several countries, rail services in Britain were delayed, and cultural landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, reduced operating hours. France’s nuclear power plants also cut electricity output because warmer rivers limited cooling water supplies.
The Netherlands canceled outdoor sporting events and reduced public transit service, while Switzerland opened air-conditioned movie theaters as cooling centers. Across the continent, construction crews shifted to overnight work schedules, and demand for fans and portable air conditioners surged.
France’s weather agency compared the current conditions to the devastating 2003 European heatwave, which lasted 16 days and was linked to an estimated 80,000 excess deaths across the continent.
Source: Reuters