The record temperatures they don’t just stay in southern Europe. Germany, Belgium and the UK they face extreme heat. In fact, The United Kingdom has set an all-time record of more than 40 ° C, announced the British meteorological agency Met Office in the midst of the heat wave that hits Western Europe. “For the first time we have exceeded 40°C in the UK” at Heathrow airport in west London, the Met Office said. The previous record for heat dating from 2019 it had been beaten a few hours earlier, with 39.1 °C in south London.
Already last Sunday, the United Kingdom activated the red alert for the first time in its history due to high temperatures, although from the Meteorological Office they warned that the true record would occur this Tuesday, when it is estimated that the thermometers will reach 43 degrees in some parts of the country.
In the south, which until now has been the most affected territory, France lived on Monday the “hottest day” of the current wave, a fact that caused several temperature records in western locations such as Brest with 39.3º either Nantes with 42º, according to the Météo-France meteorological service. While, in Spain and Portugal, firefighters continue to fight against forest fires that devastate thousands of hectares.
This heat wave is second recorded in less than a month in Europe. For scientists, the continuity of these phenomena is a direct consequence of the climate change.
germany prepares
This Tuesday, the heat wave will reach the western germanywhere meteorological services forecast temperatures of up to 40 degrees throughout the day. The German Weather Service (DWD) has predicted that in some western regions the previous record set in 39.2 degrees. Also, the heat will then spread to southern Germany, where it is expected to reach some eastern regions, including berlinon Wednesday.
The absolute maximum in Germany registered in July 2019 in Duisburg, one of the urban centers in the west of the country, when the 41.2 degrees. The country’s authorities have called on the population of these regions to exercise the utmost caution in the face of this new wave of extreme heat.
Museums open to face the heat
In Belgium are also in the grip of the heat wave spreading across Europe, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees in some parts of the country. The Government has taken some measures to mitigate the effects of high temperatures: some trains will stop running and shops, such as butchers or bakeries, they will close before and others, such as florists, they will not open
The Belgian Government has also announced that federal museums will open their doors for free to people over 65 years of age and their companions during these days so that they can face the high temperatures in air-conditioned spaces. It is one of the extraordinary measures with which the authorities try to face the heat wave that this Monday reached the country and whose peak is expected this Tuesdaywith temperatures that can reach up to 40 degrees, according to the Royal Meteorological Institute, which activated the Orange alert on Monday.
“The main mission of our great museums is, obviously, to show a collection. But they are also institutions open to society and at the service of the population“said the Secretary of State for Science Policy, Thomas Derminwho defended that these spaces be “fully available to vulnerable people in case of extreme weather events”.
The flemish region applied this this Monday a code orange in all its nature reserves due to the persistence of heat and dryness, reported the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests on its website. “It’s very dry and the risk of fire is very high, so smoking and making fires are prohibited in nature reserves and forest areas,” warned the agency, which also recommends not leaving children unattended.
Although high temperatures are unusual in the country, Belgium has had particularly hot weeks in recent summers, to the point that in 2019 the red alert was activated for the first time, in a year in which 40 degrees were exceeded. Also in 2020 that level of risk was activated.
Scotland in amber
Scotland could have this Tuesday the day hottest in its history with temperatures expected to reach 35 degrees. The Met Office has said there is “a good chance” that the scottish record 32.9 degrees get over this week. Most of Scotland recorded high temperatures on Monday, with Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire surpassing the 30 degrees.
The Secretary for Justice and Chief Minister for Resilience, KeithBrown, has commented that the Scottish Government is receiving regular updates from transport providers, the NHS (medical service) and emergency services on the heat wave impact. “I urge people to think about whether they have to travel, and if they do, to make sure they go well-appointed and plan your trip in advance” he said addressing the population. “Train passengers and conductors must ensure that have water, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses and have a fully charged phone in case of any difficulty” he added.
deadly fires
The forest fires that devastate southern Europe with thousands of hectares at the moment have forced the eviction of more than 30,000 people, that have had to be treated in the emergency shelters enabled for evacuees.
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In Francethe fire that affects the Gironde region, has already burned nearly 17,000 hectares. “It’s a monster like an octopus, and it’s growing and growing and growing in the front, in the back, on both sides. Because of the temperature, because of the wind, because of the lack of water in the air… he is a monster and it is very difficult to fight against him”has said Jean-Luc Gleyze, Gironde regional president, when asked about the flames.
In Portugalwhere temperatures of 47 degrees Last Thursday, most of the country was declared in danger of fire. Between Spain and the Portuguese country, more than 1,000 deaths because of the heat these past few days.