Record temperatures are expected this weekend across much of Western Europe, with experts warning that early heatwaves will become the norm in the future.
France, Spain and other Western European countries are bracing for a scorching June weekend that will set new heat records, amid concerns about major forest fires, water shortages and other negative consequences of climate change.
Heat waves are already a fact of life in many European countries, and record temperatures are expected in many places on Saturday.
On Friday, for example, temperatures were recorded at over 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of France. The French meteorological service Metro France reports that June heat records have already been broken in eleven areas. On Saturday, a high of 42 degrees Celsius is expected in some areas.
According to Matthieu Sorel, climatologist at Metro France, a heat wave has not been recorded this early in a summer since 1947. The weather is a sign of climate change, according to Sorel.
The heat is also palpable in Spain. On Friday, temperatures exceeded 35 degrees in large parts of the country and forest fires ravaged almost 9,000 hectares of land in northwestern Spain.
The fires have forced around 200 people to leave their homes.
In northern Italy, several cities have announced water rationing and the Lombardy region may declare a state of emergency as record drought threatens harvests.
Britain also broke the record for the hottest day of the year on Friday, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. It was the third day in a row that a new heat record was set.
”What we are witnessing today is unfortunately a foretaste of the future,” says Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the UN weather agency WMO, and continues:
”As a result of climate change, heat waves are starting earlier.”
Source: TT-DI.SE
