Extreme heat has engulfed a significant part of Europe. Official heat warnings are in effect across almost all of Germany. The highest level of danger due to high temperatures has been declared in France and Austria.
At least 94 million people in Europe will face daytime temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, June 24, most of them in Spain and France. More than 350 million people live in European regions where temperatures will rise above 30 degrees - this is about two-thirds of the population of Europe, excluding Turkey, reports AFP, citing forecasts from the German Meteorological Service and population projections for 2025 prepared by the Joint Research Center.
Such data on extreme heat in Europe also coincides with estimates from the Austrian project Klimadashboard Österreich, notes AFP.
Official heat warnings are in effect in most areas of Germany
For several days, official warnings about extreme heat have been in effect across most of Germany, except for certain areas in the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Brandenburg. A high-pressure area from the south continues to bring "increasingly hot and very hot air," leading to very high heat in the southwest and west of the country, which is gradually spreading to northern regions, stated the German Meteorological Service (DWD) in Offenbach.
In northern Germany, maximum temperatures are expected to range from 27 to 34 degrees, while in the rest of the country, temperatures will range from 32 to 39 degrees. Many areas are experiencing so-called tropical nights, when air temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees. According to forecasts, temperatures are expected to continue rising in the coming days as increasingly hot air masses move into Central Europe.
Thus, on June 25 and 26, temperatures in the west and southwest of Germany are expected to rise to 41 degrees, and on June 27, extreme heat ranging from 35 to 41 degrees is forecasted everywhere, except for areas in the far north of the country. Meteorologists believe a new temperature record for June is possible. From June 27, there is also a risk of severe thunderstorms.
In France - power outages due to extreme heat
The intense heat in France has led to power outages in Brittany. On the morning of June 24, about 68,000 households were left without electricity due to overheating at a substation in the municipality of Ergué-Gabéric near Quimper, where temperatures reached 40 degrees. The day before, France recorded the hottest day in the history of meteorological observations, and extreme temperatures are expected to persist in the coming days, reaching up to 43 degrees in some areas.
Currently, the highest level of danger due to heat has been declared in 58 French departments out of 96 on the mainland. Almost all other departments are under a second-level alert. Authorities are urging citizens to work from home if possible.
In Austria, the highest level of heat warning has been declared
In Vienna and several other Austrian cities, the highest level of warning for adverse weather conditions due to extreme heat has been announced for the upcoming weekend. The risk zone includes northeastern Austria, including Vienna and Linz, as well as other cities in the east and south of the country, such as Graz and Klagenfurt. According to the Austrian national meteorological service, temperatures in Vienna are expected to reach up to 39 degrees, while in other cities, temperatures will reach 37-38 degrees.
Other European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom, are also facing heat, reports "Deutsche Welle."
