Heatwave Grips Spain As France Braces For Soaring Temperatures
Umer Jamshaid Published June 13, 2022 | 10:25 PM
Spain was on Monday in the grips of a heatwave expected to reach "extreme" levels with France set to follow suit as meteorologists blame the unusually high seasonal temperatures on global warming
Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jun, 2022 ) :Spain was on Monday in the grips of a heatwave expected to reach "extreme" levels with France set to follow suit as meteorologists blame the unusually high seasonal temperatures on global warming.
The "unusual" temperatures in the first-half of June come after Spain experienced its hottest May in at least 100 years, Ruben del Campo, spokesman for the Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet) said.
He told AFP that the current heatwave would bring "extreme temperatures" and "could last until the end of the week".
Temperatures are forecast to rise above 40 degrees Celsius (around 104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the centre and south of the country on Monday, and even climb as high as 43 degrees in the southern Andalusia region, especially in the cities of Cordoba or Seville, according to Aemet.
The heatwave is also set to spread elsewhere in Europe, such as France, in the next few days, del Campo warned.
France's weather service said the heatwave would hit southern regions from late Tuesday, worsening a drought across much of the country that is threatening farm harvests.
From Wednesday, much of France will swelter in temperatures that could reach 38 or even 40C -- "extremely early" for the season -- forecaster Frederic Nathan of Meteo-France told AFP.
Water use restrictions are already in place in around a third of France -- and utilities are urging farmers, factories and public service providers to show "restraint" in their water use.
- 'Not normal' - In Portugal, hot weather began last Friday, prompting the civil protection authority to raise the alert level over the risks of forest fires.
Portugal was among several European nations to have faced fierce fires last summer, which climate scientists warn will become increasingly common due to manmade global warming.
In 2017, fires killed dozens of people in Portugal.
Recent science has shown beyond any doubt that climate change has already increased the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, and that worse is on the horizon no matter how quickly humanity draws down carbon pollution.
Earth has already warmed 1.1 degrees C since pre-industrial times.
The decade from 2011 to 2020 was the warmest on record, and the last six years the hottest ever registered.
Spain has experienced four episodes of extreme temperatures in the last 10 months.
A heatwave last August set a new record, with the temperature hitting 47.4 degrees C in the southern city of Montoro.
"This extreme heat is not normal at this time during the spring," del Campo said, attributing it to global warming.
Temperatures were also "exceptionally high" between Christmas and New Year's Day.
- Summer 'one-month longer' - Since the pre-industrial era, Spain has seen temperatures rise by 1.7 degrees C on average, del Campo said.
Not only have temperatures become more extreme, he said, but periods of heat have become more frequent.
Summers in Spain, he added, "are a bit hotter every year and getting longer and longer. A summer lasts one month longer than in the 1980s." Apart from the consequences on human health, he warned of the environmental impact, with a high risk of drought and water supply problems, and more fires.
In September, a huge wildfire raged for seven days in the Sierra Bermeja area, killing a firefighter and forcing 2,600 people from their homes as it burned through some 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of land.
Turkey, meanwhile, braced for strong rains, wind and flash floods in the north and centre of the country on Monday, after a weekend of flooding left five people dead, authorities said on Monday.
Greece, too, saw widespread flooding at the weekend.
vid-mig/kjm
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Edotco Delegation Visits PTA
Qatar’s MoS for Foreign Affairs arrives in Islamabad
Seven labourers from Punjab shot dead in Gwadar
Nation will never forget criminals of 9th May who attacked state for politics: P ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 9 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 09 May 2024
IHC adjourns PTI founder, Qureshi's appeal till Thursday
CDWP recommends 3 projects to ECNEC for approval
Tarar assures APNS to resolve issues of newspaper industry
Pakistan urged to capitalize on economic stability, for Tobacco Tax Reforms
N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours
Croatia's ruling party reaches coalition deal with right wing
More Stories From World
-
Nuggets' Jokic wins his 3rd NBA MVP award in 4 years
1 minute ago -
Chinese cities lift curbs on buying homes as property crisis bites
11 minutes ago -
Tokyo shares open higher
21 minutes ago -
Biden says will stop some arm shipments if Israel invades Rafah
31 minutes ago -
Air Vanuatu scraps flights as insolvency looms
41 minutes ago -
Air India cancels 85 budget flights after sick leave strike
41 minutes ago
-
Paris Olympic flame begins relay across France
51 minutes ago -
Tokyo's Nikkei index closes lower
2 hours ago -
Turkey therapy dogs join Istanbul Airport staff
2 hours ago -
Pakistani Hujjaj start arriving to begin spirtual journey from the Prophet's city
2 hours ago -
Romania opens first crowd-funded hospital
2 hours ago -
Eight injured in Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Belgorod
3 hours ago