Europe Braces for More Scorching Heat as Temperatures Rise Again
Europe is preparing for another period of extreme heat. The continent experienced record high temperatures in June and July. This earlier heat caused many wildfires, dried up rivers, and led to thousands of deaths. Now, new heat warnings are in place across several nations.
Parts of Britain and France are already under official warnings for very hot weather. Temperatures are expected to reach above 30 degrees Celsius this week. Tony Grayling, from the British Environment Agency, said this hot, dry weather is harming farmers. He added that it will also affect the environment for a long time.
The British government has told farmers they cannot use as much water for their crops. Some areas also have a ban on using garden hoses. More than 27 million people in Britain now face rules about water use. This is the fifth heatwave to hit Britain this year.
In France, water use rules apply to 70 percent of the country. This is because the dry weather is getting worse amid repeated heatwaves. These rules mean people cannot water gardens, fill swimming pools, wash cars, or water crops.
Spain recorded its hottest July ever since 1961. It was also the driest July on record, with only 4.3 millimeters of rain. This was only 26 percent of the usual rainfall. The extreme heat helped spread Spain’s largest wildfire in recent history.
Wildfires are still burning in Greece and Spain. Firefighters are working hard to stop blazes in Andalusia, Spain. Antonio Sanz, an emergency chief in Andalusia, said stopping the fires near Niebla town is very difficult. He expects it will take several more days. Almost 500 people have left their homes in that area.
Meanwhile, shipping groups in Germany are worried about the Rhine river. Water levels are falling because of the hot summer and little rain. Jens Schwanen, from the BDB shipping group, said ships may soon not be able to travel on parts of the Rhine. This would stop commercial ships from moving goods in the region.
Europe is warming faster than any other continent because of climate change. Very high temperatures are also expected in Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary.
