Southern Europe is already battling the consequences of more scorching summer heat, which experts claim is a result of the world’s changing climate and describe the circumstances as “Hell,” with temperatures in Western Europe expected to surge past 40 degrees Celsius next week. As unprecedented heat grips most of Europe, wildfires are ravaging portions of France and Portugal, and temperatures in the U.K. may reach 104 degrees for the first time in recorded history.The U.K. Met Office, the country’s official meteorological service, on Friday issued the first-ever red excessive heat warning. The warnings cover a large portion of southern England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures there might exceed 40 degrees Celsius, or approximately 104 degrees. Weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said that “nobody living has witnessed a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius in the U.K.” Even in Dallas or Houston at this time of year, that would be a warm day, let alone London.This week in Madrid, temperatures exceeded many records, and according to health officials, at least 360 people died over the week from heat-related reasons. At least 238 individuals in Portugal perished as a result of the extreme heat. This year’s wildfires have already consumed more land than all of 2021 combined. Fires burned in the Gironde region in southwest France, forcing more than 10,000 people from their homes.Earlier this week, the UK Health Security Agency organisation and the Met Office issued a level 3 heat-health alert for specific regions of the nation, necessitating the implementation of additional protective measures by social and healthcare institutions.
By Subhechcha Ganguly
