By ABP Live News
An unrepeatable heatwave that has scorched southern Europe for days is now gripping northern regions, triggering health warnings, school closures, and wildfire evacuations. Scientists are calling this an unusual early-season weather event, intensified by human-induced climate change.
Red Alerts Issued as Heatwave Spreads North
The French national weather service issued a rare 鈥渞ed alert,鈥 the highest warning level, on Tuesday鈥攊ts first in five years鈥攁s parts of France prepared for temperatures exceeding 40掳C (104掳F), news agency AFP reported. The country had already recorded its hottest June day on record on Monday. Authorities expected nearly 1,350 schools to be fully or partially shut due to overheating and lack of ventilation, nearly double the number from the previous day.
In Paris, where the heat was described as 鈥渁 struggle鈥 by residents, the Eiffel Tower鈥檚 peak was closed and will remain shut until at least Wednesday.
鈥淲e have air-conditioning but it鈥檚 not very powerful,鈥 said 27-year-old Raphael. 鈥淭oday is going to be a struggle.鈥
Warnings have been issued for vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and the homeless.
鈥淲hen it鈥檚 cold, I add blankets and hats,鈥 said Jo, a 55-year-old homeless man in Bordeaux, as quoted by AFP. 鈥淏ut when it鈥檚 hot like this, what can I do? Nothing, just wait for it to pass and hope I don鈥檛 faint.鈥
Across the Netherlands, temperatures were forecast to hit 38掳C in some areas. Regions including Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Arnhem activated emergency measures such as checking on senior citizens and adjusting school hours. Several schools in Rotterdam and West Brabant switched to 鈥渢ropical schedules鈥 to limit students鈥 exposure to the heat.
Southern Europe Continues to Scorch
In Portugal, red alerts were downgraded in most areas by Tuesday, though temperatures were still expected to reach 40掳C in central and southern regions like Castelo Branco, Beja, and 脡vora.
Spain recorded a new June high of 46掳C in the south, with continued red alerts and health warnings. Italy issued heat warnings for 18 cities, including Rome, Milan, Verona, Perugia, and Palermo. The Balkans, particularly Montenegro and the Croatian coast, were also affected.
The risk of wildfires remains dangerously high. In Portugal, 250 firefighters were deployed Monday night to contain a blaze in Aljustrel.
In Turkiye, over 50,000 people were evacuated due to multiple fires in the Izmir province, worsened by winds reaching 120 km/h (75 mph). Greece continues to battle wildfires amid the relentless heat.
Climate Scientists Raise Alarm
Experts have linked the heatwave to climate change, warning that these extreme and prolonged heat events are becoming more common and deadly.
鈥淭his event is unusual because it鈥檚 extreme, very early in the summer period, and climate change has almost certainly made it worse,鈥 said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, as per AFP.
鈥淢ore and more European cities are adapting,鈥 she added, 鈥渂ut arguably it鈥檚 not quick enough or extensive enough. We鈥檙e still seeing infrastructure challenges, pressure on healthcare systems, and excess deaths.鈥