Extreme heat wave: Europe breaks temperature records! Where is the relaxation?

Extreme heat wave: Europe breaks temperature records! Where is the relaxation?

El Granado, Spanien - The heat wave that Europe is currently capable of affects especially southern Europe, especially Spain, Portugal and Italy. A new heat record was registered on Sunday in El Granado, Spain, at 46 degrees Celsius, which exceeds the previous record of 45.2 degrees in Seville from 1965. The regional authorities alerted these extreme temperatures because the effects can also significantly affect healthy people. There are also record -breaking temperatures in the Algarve, a popular holiday region in Portugal, and the night temperatures do not fall below 30 degrees Celsius, which significantly disrupts people's sleep.

in Italy, where extreme heat warnings were issued for 21 cities such as Rome, Milan and Naples, the demand for air conditioning systems and ice cream increases. The Italian authorities recommend avoiding the hot sun between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and foregoing sporting activities. The country has had the European heat record of 48.8 degrees Celsius since 2021. In southern Europe, the effects of the extreme temperatures are clearly noticeable. The weather conditions transform regions such as Sicily into a barren desert, which has serious consequences for cattle farming.

Austria in heat fever

The average temperatures also increase sharply in Austria. For the coming week, maximum values ​​of up to 38 degrees Celsius will be forecast, with temperatures of up to 34 degrees already expected on Monday. Especially in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, the heat wave could be particularly pronounced. Experts also warn of possible thunderstorms and control sheets from Wednesday afternoon. The hottest day is announced for Thursday, on which thunderstorms could occur in different federal states.

The persistent heat not only has human but also ecological effects. High temperatures and intense sunlight lead to dry soils and vegetation, which increases the risk of forest fires. In Croatia, authorities warn of extreme heat, and the fire brigade is fighting devastating forest fires that have already destroyed dozens of houses on the south coast. In Greece, 28,000 emergency services are now in use to combat the fire that have devastated more than 4,000 hectares on the Aegean Island of Chios.

climate change as a driving force

The current heat wave is in the context of man -made climate change, which has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of the heat waves in Europe. Between 1975 and 2000 only two heat waves were registered in June, while nine were already recorded between 2000 and 2024. The increasing temperatures in Europe are faster than in most other world regions, which leads to an increase in extreme heat load. Spain, France and the countries of the Mediterranean area are particularly affected, where droughts and forest fires occur more and more.

The temperatures in Europe have increased more than twice as much in the past 30 years as the global average, which further exacerbates the situation. These climatic changes not only affect health and agriculture, but also on the entire economic infrastructure of the continent. The Eurostat report of 2022 shows that the economic damage caused by heat waves and droughts are considerable and the economic costs of these natural events are increasing.

Overall, it becomes clear that the extreme weather conditions, as they are currently in Europe, not only pose an immediate danger to the population, but will also have long -term effects on the environment and society. Climate change is a reality that urgently needs to be combated.