On Sunday, Europe faced intense heat as a prolonged heatwave coincided with the summer solstice, marking the start of the continent’s hottest months. This heatwave, the second of the year, is attributed to hot air from the Sahara, intensified by a high-pressure system called the African High, creating a “heat dome” over Western and Central Europe.
Cities like Granada in Spain experienced temperatures soaring to 39°C. The World Health Organization reported over 200,000 heat-related fatalities in Europe over the past four years, highlighting the dangers of heatwaves. In France, authorities issued emergency alerts for about a third of the nation, disrupting transport and prompting the SNCF to suspend 71 intercity trains, while urging vulnerable passengers to postpone travel.
Germany forecasted temperatures rising to 39°C midweek, leading to the evacuation of the Berlin Open tennis tournament due to severe weather. Tragically, five individuals drowned over the weekend in local rivers and lakes.
Italy and Spain faced red alerts as temperatures surpassed 35°C and were expected to rise further, with Spain canceling public screenings of matches due to the extreme heat. Authorities anticipate the heatwave to persist at least until midweek.
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