A large amount of hot air from North Africa has drawn in over Portugal and Spain. In the central and northern parts of Portugal, hundreds of fires have raged as a result of the dry and hot weather, and if the heat wave in Spain remains, it is expected to be one of the most persistent since 1975, writes AFP.
In Seville in southern Spain the temperature has risen to over 42.4 degrees and in the city of Candeleda the temperature has been measured at 43.3 degrees. In Portuguese Évora, a whole week with temperatures above 40 degrees has never been registered before, the newspaper reports Public.
After a month since the latest heat wave, France is also facing high temperatures. Until Saturday, it is expected to be between 36 and 38 degrees with peaks close to 39 degrees in the southwestern parts of the country, writes French Le Monde.
Devastating temperatures in the UK
In Italy, the heat wave is expected to continue for at least another week with temperatures around 40 degrees, reports The Republic.
Temperatures are also expected to rise in the UK. The Met Office, the country’s national weather service, has extended the heat warning until Monday next week when it is expected to be over 35 degrees in the southeastern parts of the country, reports The Guardian. According to the weather service, the country has an average of 2,000 heat-related deaths each year, writes Independent.
“Implications for both humans and animals”
The high temperatures do not only affect people. A consequence of climate change is also that winter precipitation decreases in the Mediterranean area, which contributes to drier soils and depleted water reserves.
– It has consequences for both humans and animals, but also for industry and for agriculture, says Erik Kjellström to TT.
According to Erik Kjellström, heat waves are inevitable as long as the earth’s average temperature continues to rise – something that is largely due to the large carbon dioxide emissions.