Temperatures in the UK are predicted to soar to 30°C (86°F) by the weekend, coinciding with an intense heatwave gripping southern Europe.
Following a wet start to July characterized by significantly above-average rainfall, parts of the UK are set to experience a brief heatwave.
Meanwhile, a wave of hot air from Africa has enveloped parts of Europe and the Balkans in what is being described as “hellishly hot” conditions.
Mini-heatwave expected in the UK
The Met Office had earlier issued yellow weather warnings for rain in various parts of the UK, with some areas receiving up to 15-20mm within an hour.
The beginning of the month saw rainfall far above the norm. England has already accumulated 97% of its typical July rainfall, while Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have recorded 65%, 49%, and 47% respectively.
However, a change is on the horizon with temperatures in southern parts of the UK expected to reach around 30°C on Friday and Saturday. This warm spell is anticipated to be short-lived, with cooler weather returning on Sunday.
Extreme heat in Europe and the Balkans
In southern Europe, the heatwave has prompted Italy’s health ministry to issue its highest level of heat warnings for 12 cities. Temperatures have exceeded 40°C (104°F), with forecasts suggesting the worst is yet to come.
Although heatwaves are natural phenomena and have occurred before human-induced climate change, global warming is intensifying these events, making them more frequent and severe, according to scientists from World Weather Attribution. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) asserts that human activities are driving the rise in both average and extreme temperatures globally.
Cities across southern Europe are implementing measures to protect vulnerable populations. Wildfires have erupted in parts of southern Italy and North Macedonia, with elderly residents receiving special care.
“It’s hellishly hot,” commented Carmen Diaz, a tourist from Madrid visiting Rome. Major Italian cities, from Trieste in the north to Rome, are under red heat warnings, with Palermo in Sicily expected to join them soon.
In Greece, public spaces with air conditioning have been made available, and outdoor work during peak heat hours has been prohibited.
Temperatures are expected to reach 42°C (107°F) in several regions on Wednesday and Thursday, with Spain’s national weather service predicting highs of up to 44°C (111°F) in the Guadalquivir river basin.
In Albania, where temperatures are also forecasted to hit 42°C, a 72-year-old man was found deceased on his farm in Memaliaj, approximately 200km south of the capital, Tirana. Local reports suggest his death may be heat-related, although official confirmation is pending.
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