Environment Desk, June 23 (EFE).- Temperatures soared on Tuesday as the summer’s first heatwave scorched Western Europe.
France saw its hottest day on Tuesday since records began in 1947, with a national average of 29.8 °C (85°F), according to Météo France, surpassing the previous records set on July 25, 2019, and August 5, 2003 (29.4 °C).
This unprecedented heatwave will continue until Friday, when a gradual drop in temperatures is expected to begin, starting along the Atlantic coast.
As of 5 pm local time on Tuesday, all-time records had been set in several cities in western France, including 43.3 °C (109.9°F) in Cazaux (Gironde), 42.2 °C (107.9°F) in Niort (Deux-Sèvres), 42.1 °C (107.9°F) in Bordeaux (Gironde), and 41.3 °C (106.3°F) in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine).
Although the figures are still preliminary, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated on Tuesday that since the heat wave began on Jun. 18, 40 people have died from heat-related causes.
On Monday, there were also two heat-related deaths: two children, ages 2 and 4, who died in Carpentras (southeast) inside their mother’s car, which was parked in a parking lot.
Of the nearly 60,000 schools in France, 1,800 had to close due to the high temperatures, while about 8,000 shortened their hours.
The Eiffel Tower closed exceptionally to visitors at 4 pm on Tuesday due to the heat.
Spain’s heat wave
The summer’s first heat wave also brought extremely high temperatures to Spain, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) across large areas and reaching nearly 44°C (111°F) in the north.
Minimum temperatures were also very high, with readings above 20°C (68°F) across much of the country.
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued a red alert (extraordinary danger) due to extreme temperatures of up to 44°C (104°F) in areas of Andalusia (south); in Liébana, in Cantabria (north), and in the inland areas of Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya, in the Basque Country (north).
10 other autonomous communities are under a heat advisory at the orange level: Aragón (central-east), Asturias (north), Castile and León (central-west), Castile-La Mancha (central), Catalonia (northeast), Extremadura (west), Galicia (northwest), Madrid, Navarre (north), and La Rioja (north).
The Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen, urged the public to exercise extreme caution regarding the heat, but also fire outbreaks, after last year’s blazes left 350,000 hectares scorched.
Schools closed in the UK, possible work suspensions in Italy
Some schools in England decided to shorten the school day on Tuesday due to the heat wave, while some train services were disrupted by the rising temperatures.
Temperatures in England and Wales reached nearly 34°C (93°F) on Tuesday, and a red alert is in effect for Wednesday and Thursday, when the thermometer is expected to hit 40°C (104°F), a record for June.
Meanwhile, the Italian government approved emergency measures and aid to allow certain businesses to suspend or reduce work activities due to the high temperatures.
Hottest week in Belgium
The Belgian government convened the National Crisis Center in response to rising temperatures, which exceeded 30°C (86°F) on Tuesday as a prelude to a heat wave that could make this week the hottest in the country’s history.
Temperatures will approach Belgium’s all-time high of 41.8 °C (107.2°F), recorded on July 25, 2019.
Germany and Switzerland on alert
The German Weather Service (DWD) forecasted temperatures in Germany will soon reach up to 40°C (104°F).
Several areas of Switzerland also surpassed 36°C (96°F) and are experiencing their highest temperatures of the year, as a result of the heat wave that has led authorities to declare a maximum heat alert in several regions.EFE
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