Spain and England experienced their hottest June on record, as a severe heatwave gripped Europe, impacting daily life and leading to widespread concerns about climate change.
Spain and England have recorded their hottest June ever, as blistering temperatures continue to affect Europe. According to Aemet, Spain’s weather service, June’s average temperature was an unprecedented 23.6C (74.5F), surpassing records typically seen in July and August.
The situation is similar in England, where the Met Office reported that June’s mean temperature hit a record 16.9C, making it the hottest June since monitoring began in 1884. The UK as a whole recorded its second warmest June on record, with a mean temperature of 15.2C, only surpassed by June 2023 which saw 15.8C.
In Portugal, a daily high of 46.6C was recorded in Mora, exceeding the national June record. The country’s monthly average data has yet to be finalized.
The extreme weather has had severe consequences. In Turkey, tens of thousands of residents were evacuated as wildfires swept through several provinces, causing significant damage and prompting emergency responses. Two separate heat-related fatalities were reported in Italy.
Meanwhile, night-time temperatures remained high across Spain, with Seville and Barcelona registering 28C and 27C, respectively. The UK recorded its hottest day of the year with 34.7C in St James’s Park, London, after seeing 33.1C at Heathrow Airport the previous day. Wimbledon experienced its hottest opening day with 32.9C.
In France, the heatwave prompted red alert warnings across Paris and 15 other regions, leading to the closure of nearly 1,896 schools and colleges. At Paris Orly airport, the temperature reached 37.6C. The intense heat also led to the closure of the Eiffel Tower.
Italy’s Tuscany region reported a 20% increase in hospital admissions, and work hours were adjusted to avoid the hottest part of the day. In Florence, a temperature of 38.9C was recorded, while Cagliari in the south reached 38.6C. In Greece, temperatures approached 40C, causing wildfires in coastal areas near Athens. Similarly, Germany’s Rivalling heat forced a warning as temperatures neared 38C, affecting the Rhine River’s shipping capacity due to lower water levels.
The heatwave also had environmental impacts. The Adriatic Sea’s rising temperatures accommodated invasive species like lionfish and stressed shrinking alpine glaciers. In the Balkans, intense heat led to cooler conditions; however, wildfires persisted in Montenegro.
The United Nations’ Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, highlighted the heatwave’s alarming implications, stressing the urgent need for adopting climate-friendly practices. Rising temperatures, floods, and droughts pose threats to public health and environmental sustainability. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, human activity is intensifying heatwaves which are expected to become more severe with ongoing global warming.
Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Reading, explained that greenhouse gas accumulation is making it more challenging for Earth to shed surplus heat, resulting in escalated heatwave intensity.
As Europe faces one of its hottest summers, the impact of climate change becomes increasingly visible, urging collective action towards sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Source: Original article