© Adobe Stock/M. Ursi Extreme heat will spread across much of Western, Central and Southern Europe over the next two weeks. Europe is suffocating from extreme heat Climate and Environment
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and partners are coordinating measures to protect public health in response to the record heatwave that hit Europe at the end of June. Its consequences affect the economy, infrastructure, agriculture and ecosystems.
In France, June 24 became the hottest day on record. In some areas the temperature rose to 43.8 degrees Celsius. Red, the highest alert level, was declared in 58 departments. The average temperature across the country reached 30 degrees, surpassing previous records set in 2019 and 2003. As drought worsens, authorities have warned of a high risk of wildfires.
Spain also experienced its hottest June days on record. On June 23 and 24, temperatures well exceeded 40 degrees in many parts of the country.
New temperature records were also recorded in the UK, where on June 24 the air warmed up to 36.1 degrees Celsius. A red alert level was also announced in Germany and Switzerland.
Extreme heat will spread across much of Western, Central and Southern Europe over the next two weeks before shifting towards the Balkans, according to one of the WMO regional climate centres. Air temperatures in many regions will be 3-10 degrees above normal, and daytime highs will exceed 35 degrees. The greatest threat is posed not only by daytime temperatures, but also by hot nights. So-called “tropical nights,” when temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees, are becoming increasingly common during heat waves, especially in cities. Experts emphasize that at night the body recovers from the heat of the day: body temperature decreases and the load on the cardiovascular system decreases. If this does not happen, the body experiences serious stress.
“This is why the nighttime minimum temperature is often a more important indicator than the daytime maximum when assessing the health effects of heat,” explained Armelle Castellan, climate and health consultant for the WMO and World Health Organization. climate
Amid extreme heat, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at London Climate Week on June 23, warned that such events will become more frequent and more intense.
“We have just experienced the eleven hottest years on record. Climate disasters are becoming more frequent, destructive and costly. The World Meteorological Organization warns that the worst is yet to come,” the UN chief said.
According to Guterres, the developing El Niño climate phenomenon could further impact global temperature rises, disrupt food and water systems, and affect the most vulnerable populations.
How to prepare for extreme heat
WMO is one of ten UN specialized agencies participating in the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to combat the effects of extreme heat. Its goal is to strengthen international cooperation, improve early warning systems and help countries better prepare for heatwaves.
Through the Early Warnings for All initiative, WMO is working with national weather services to provide timely heat warnings and advice to protect health.
Together with the World Health Organization, WMO has developed recommendations for establishing early warning systems and action plans during heat waves. They help governments and health services prepare in advance for extreme weather events and reduce their impact.
Experts remind that heat stress occurs when the body takes in more heat than it can release. In hot, humid weather, natural cooling mechanisms, most notably sweating, stop working effectively and body temperature begins to rise. housing.
Cities remain at risk
Cities are especially hard hit by extreme heat. Air temperature Cities can be several degrees warmer than rural areas due to the large amount of concrete and asphalt structures, lack of green space and poor air circulation.
The WMO notes that many cities still do not have enough information or tools to help use this data to protect the population. However, the necessary solutions already exist – from heat risk maps and models for assessing the health effects of heat to urban planning tools. The main challenge today is not to develop new technologies, but to understand which of them are most effective in different conditions and how they can be applied in other cities.
This was the topic of an international workshop held in April at WMO headquarters as part of the European Union-funded iClimateAction project. Participants – WMO experts, climate and health experts, representatives of space agencies, city planners and technology companies – discussed the creation of a Global Heat Resilience Watch to provide cities around the world with reliable information and practical tools to better prepare for and reduce extreme heat. consequences.