AP News's
Colleen Barry and Jamey Keaten are reporting on the impact of extreme heat waves on tourism in Europe.
A heatwave has hit several parts of southern Europe, including Greece, Spain, and Switzerland, as wildfires continue to rage in those regions. Officials are urging residents and tourists to stay indoors during the hottest hours and take precautions to protect themselves from the extreme heat. The United Nations weather agency predicts that temperatures in Europe, fueled by climate change, could surpass the previous record of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit) set in Sicily in 2021. Heatwaves have become a major concern globally, and scientists believe that 2023 may be the hottest year on record. The rising temperatures are attributed to human-caused climate change and are exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. Last year's relentless summer in Europe resulted in 61,000 heat-related deaths, and the trend of heatwaves is expected to continue. Countries are implementing measures to protect public health, such as changing working hours and temporarily closing ancient sites. The article emphasizes the need to address climate change to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat events.
(This article was written with assistance from ChatGPT)
Source: AP News
https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-mediterranean-europe-wildfires-weather-6b51eddecd0a1814785c046e2ddc3d63
