Deadly Heatwave

• A deadly heatwave is sweeping across Europe, triggering widespread wildfires, including a blaze in the pine forests of the tourist island of Vis. • Emergency crews, including dozens of firefighters and four aircraft, are currently working to contain the fires on Vis. • The heatwave is impacting several major nations, with France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Britain all experiencing similar extreme conditions.

• Germany recorded a provisional all-time high temperature of 41.3°C in Saarbrücken as a severe heatwave grips Europe. • In Switzerland, the Beznau nuclear power plant took both reactors offline on Friday after the River Aare reached 25°C, a move intended to prevent environmental damage from cooling water discharge. • Scientists at World Weather Attribution report that temperatures across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and southern England are 5–12°C above seasonal averages due to a persistent high-pressure system.

• Germany recorded a provisional all-time high temperature of 41.3°C in Saarbrücken as a severe heatwave grips Europe. • In Switzerland, the Beznau nuclear power plant was forced to take both reactors offline after the River Aare reached 25°C, exceeding safe cooling limits. • World Weather Attribution scientists report that temperatures across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and southern England are 5–12°C above seasonal averages due to a persistent high-pressure system.

Temperatures across parts of continent around 10-15C above average for this time of year, while thunderstorms strike eastern AustraliaEurope has experienced an exceptional heatwave this week, with temperature records broken across multiple countries under a persistent area of high pressure, commonly referred to as a “heat dome.” The UK surpassed its May maximum temperature record on Tuesday, with 35.1C recorded at Kew Gardens, London.This broke the record set only the day before, with 34.8C recorded in London on Monday. Previously, the maximum May temperature record was 32.8C, recorded in 1922 and then matched in 1944. Ireland also broke its May maximum temperature, with 28.8C recorded at two weather stations – in Killarney in the south-west and Clonmel in the south. Continue reading...

Scientists warn of ‘new reality’ of heat extremes that claim three times more lives than car crashes and 16 times as many as murderersMalcolm Mistry knew it was going to get “very warm, very quickly” on Monday morning but a slow start out of bed delayed his plans for an early game of cricket with his son. It was already 10am by the time the pair arrived at the sun-soaked nets of their local club in south-west London, and to the embarrassment of the 48-year-old scientist, who played cricket in his youth, his body was struggling after just half an hour of bowling.Had he continued for another hour, Mistry reckons he would have probably suffered from heatstroke. Had he and his son stayed until noon, they would have found themselves straining their bodies in direct sunlight while a nearby weather station logged the UK’s hottest May temperature since records began. Continue reading...

Temperatures soar in California and Arizona, while deluge continues across Western and Northern CapeHeat is expected to intensify across western parts of the US and Mexico this week as a ridge of high pressure pushes temperatures well above the seasonal norm. Daytime highs are forecast to reach 10-15C above average in some areas.The US National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for parts of California and Arizona, with extreme heat warnings in force on Monday and Tuesday in places such as Palm Springs, where temperatures could reach 40-43C (104-110F). More broadly, temperatures are expected to climb into the high 30s celsius before the heat shifts eastwards towards the midwest later this week. Continue reading...