The Washington Post's Ian Livingston reports that Europe is in the midst of one of the worst heat waves ever on record.
A severe and prolonged heat wave, known as Cerberus, is impacting Southern Europe, setting all-time temperature records and posing health risks. The Mediterranean region has experienced temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) for over a week. On Tuesday, several countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Bosnia, saw temperatures surpass 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), with Sicily reaching as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.3 degrees Celsius). The extreme heat has prompted red alerts for health dangers and has led to wildfires and power outages.
The scorching temperatures follow a report indicating that over 60,000 people died in European heat waves last summer. Similar record-breaking temperatures are being observed in the southern United States, and globally, the Earth is experiencing its hottest period in modern records. The heat wave is expected to continue for a few more days, with temperatures remaining significantly above normal.
Livingston warns that Europe is likely to experience more frequent and intense heat waves as the climate continues to warm due to human-caused climate change. The study suggests that what were once considered rare heat waves will become more common occurrences in the future.
-
Seperately, extreme heat waves created by climate has a major impact on the economy. Numerous reports state that tourists are cutting short trips to Southern Europe while countries in the North such as Scandinavia are experienced a travel boom.
(This article was summarized with assistance from ChatGPT)
Source:
The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/07/17/europe-heatwave-italy-spain-record-climate/
