UN agency: “Heat records across Europe”

TT

Published 18.31

 

People cool off next to a water sprinkler outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Photo: Andrew Medichini/AP/TT

The health-threatening heat wave that has swept across Europe continues to break heat records in several countries.

– It is something we need to get used to, unfortunately, says UN agency WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis.

Unusually high temperatures for the month of June have and continue to break heat records across Europe, the World Meteorological Organization, WMO, states at a press conference.

– The heat wave has a major impact on human health, ecosystems, agriculture and work capacity, says Clare Nullis.

Meteorologists call the phenomenon omega blocking.

“These types of blockages can persist for days or even weeks,” says John Kennedy, climate chief at the WMO.

Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, according to the UN agency.

“Extreme heat will occur more regularly, last longer and be more intense as global warming continues,” says Kennedy.

The WMO has compiled some of the heat records in a press release.

On June 24, the average temperature in France was 30 degrees, and the hottest local temperature was 43.8 degrees in the western village of Pulluau.

In Spain, the hottest days were on June 23 and 24, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. Bilbao recorded a record-breaking 42.7 degrees.

In the UK, the heat record for June was broken for three consecutive days; the hottest was 37.3 in southern England, according to measurements on Friday.

In Switzerland, the June record was broken when 38 degrees was measured in the city of Basel.

Germany has registered record highs of 40 degrees in several places and as the heat moves eastward and towards the Balkans, further heat records are expected to be measured in several countries there.