By Eiffel Tower
Getty ImagesNo escape from the heat: Eiffel Tower closed, blackouts in Italy, record temps in Spain
Europe faced its first major summer heat wave on Tuesday, with scorching temperatures sweeping across several countries. Authorities issued health warnings, closed landmarks, and responded to power outages and wildfires.Europe sizzled in its first major heat wave of the summer on Tuesday, as Barcelona recorded its hottest June in over a century and the summit of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors.Health warnings remained in effect in several countries. The abnormally hot weather “is exposing millions of Europeans to high heat stress” with temperatures more typical of July and August, said Samantha Burgess of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.Europe was gripped by its first major heat wave of the summer on Tuesday, July 1, as high temperatures scorched multiple countries, triggering health alerts, power disruptions, and landmark closures.Barcelona saw its hottest June in over a century, while Paris shut down the summit of the Eiffel Tower for safety. The heat, more typical of late July or August, is putting millions at risk of heat stress, experts warned, with climate data pointing to intensifying patterns linked to global warming.Live EventsFrance forced to shut schoolsIn Paris, temperatures were expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104掳F). The summit of the Eiffel Tower was closed until Thursday for 鈥渆veryone鈥檚 comfort and safety.鈥 Visitors without tickets were advised to postpone their trips.France鈥檚 national weather agency, Meteo-France, placed several departments under the highest red alert. Due to the heat, over 1,300 schools were partially or fully closed.Spain records hottest June in over a centuryBarcelona鈥檚 Fabra Observatory reported an average temperature of 26掳C (78.8掳F) in June, the highest since records began in 1914. On Monday, the city recorded a high of 37.9掳C (100.2掳F).Spain鈥檚 national average for June reached 23.6掳C (74.5掳F), breaking the previous record set in 2017. Madrid was forecast to reach 39掳C (102掳F).Ramon Pascual of Spain鈥檚 weather service linked the extreme temperatures to global warming. He said rising Mediterranean sea temperatures limit the sea鈥檚 natural cooling effect. Temperatures near the Balearic Islands were 5 to 6 degrees higher than average.Italy suffers from blackouts and heat fatalitiesIn Florence, temperatures climbed to 38掳C (100掳F). A blackout hit parts of the city after a surge in electricity demand. Power was later restored using backup systems, according to energy company Enel.Near Bologna, a 46-year-old construction company owner collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot. Authorities suspect heat as the cause of death; an autopsy is underway.Italy鈥檚 health ministry reported that 17 of 27 major cities were under heat wave conditions.According to the weather service, the town of Mora in Portugal recorded a national June temperature record of 46.6掳C (115.9掳F) on June 29.Wildfires continued in Turkey for a third day, forcing around 50,000 residents to evacuate.Parts of the Czech Republic were expected to reach 37掳C (98.6掳F) by Wednesday. At the Prague Zoo, polar bears received extra care as zookeepers distributed up to 10 metric tons of ice.In the Netherlands, firefighters prepared for a community water gun fight in Soest by bringing in a fire hose. 鈥淏ring your water pistol and swimming clothes with you, because you鈥檙e guaranteed to get soaked!鈥 they posted on social media.Climate experts warn that summers will continue to get hotter. Temperatures above 40掳C could become the norm by the year 2100.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onEurope heat waveglobal warming impactBarcelona hottest JuneEiffel Tower closedwildfires in EuropeeuropeEurope weatherEurope summerprague zooItaly heat wave(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates….moreless
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