Extreme heat continues to grip Portugal and Spain, with little relief in sight. The continued hot, dry conditions are presenting great challenges to firefighters across Europe.
HE HEAT WAVE GOES ON … AND ON
Portugal: Sitting is good …
This man in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, seems to be enjoying the feeling of sun on his face. And Portugal has been having plenty of it, as the Iberian Peninsula bakes in warmth coming over from North Africa. The country has already had near-record temperatures this year, but nothing yet to break the 47.3° C (117.1° F) recorded in 2003 in Amareleja. Still, large parts are on red alert.
… but being near water is better
Fountains, like this one in Rossio Square in Lisbon, provide welcome relief from the heat. Portugal is not just experiencing a heat wave, but also clouds of dust coming from the Sahara Desert that are tingeing the sky dark yellow in some places.
Spain: Also taking the brunt
In neighboring Spain, the mercury is also soaring and heat warnings have been issued. Three people are reported to have died from heat-related causes in the past week. Authorities are warning people to shelter from the sun and drink plenty of fluids, advice heeded by this man in Madrid.
Germany: Low rainfall and burning sun
Despite its northerly location in Europe, much of Germany has been experiencing an unusually long run of high temperatures, accompanied by much less rainfall than usual. Farmers have requested financial aid from the government to help them cope with greatly reduced harvests.
A desert landscape?
The heat in Germany has caused the waters in the Rhine River to drop dramatically leaving parts of the riverbed dry, as seen here in Düsseldorf. Freight vessels are being forced to reduce their cargoes if they want to continue sailing on the river.
Austria: Paw protection
In the Austrian capital, Vienna, asphalt in the city has become too hot for police dogs’ paws, so the force has come up with the logical response: specially made dog shoes. The working dog shown here, Spike, seems as alert as ever and completely unfazed by his new item of uniform.
Sweden: Taking advantage
Sweden has had its hottest July of the past 260 years. The high temperatures have led to a high fire danger, and wildfires in the country have extended even into the Arctic Circle. But these city dwellers in central Stockholm seem intent on seeing the bright side of the hot weather as they laze at the Tantolunden bathing place.
Britain: Brown and yellow everywhere
In Britain, the unusually long summer has taken its toll on lawns and plants across the country. Fire authorities have warned that parks and other grasslands are like a tinderbox after a July that was the country’s third-warmest month in more than a century. Greenwich Park in London, seen here, seems to be no exception.
Looking cool
But relief can been found even in central London, as seen here in a fountain at Trafalgar Square. Retailers are also suffering, groaning not just about the heat but also over decreased sales: Accountancy firm BDO said figures were down 1.1 percent in July. “The scorching conditions did not encourage physical shopping and only hindered footfall in shops,” BDO’s Sophie Michael said.
North Korea: ‘Natural disaster’
North Korea has called for an “all-out battle” against record temperatures, with crops damaged amid the prolonged heat wave. Poor harvests could hit hard in a country that is already struggling under international sanctions over its nuclear arms program. North Korea also lacks irrigation systems and other infrastructure to cope with drought.
These men in Pyongyang transporting an electric fan have obviously adopted one of the cheapest, yet most effective, ways of countering heat: the humble electric fan. They seem not to believe a widespread South Korean myth: that fans can cause death if left on while someone is asleep. The fact is, of course, that people are much more likely to die from the heat without one running.
Spain and Portugal continued to suffer from high temperatures on Sunday, with firefighters from both countries battling a forest fire near their shared border.
The fires burnt through Saturday night into Sunday morning near Badajoz in southwestern Spain. Temperatures there were expected to reach 43 C (109.4 F), according to Spain’s meteorological service (AEMET).
Spanish emergency services said on Twitter that the fire had been contained but was not yet under control as of Sunday morning.
Portugal scorched
The entire Iberian Peninsula remains under the influence of a mass of hot air from Africa, and though temperatures are slightly down on those from Saturday, little relief is in sight.
The Portuguese capital, Lisbon, experienced its warmest day since 1981 on Saturday, with the temperature peaking at 44 C (111.2 F), one degree higher than the 37-year-old record.
A large part of Portugal has been placed on high alert by the country’s Civil Protection Agency as hundreds of firefighters also battle a wildfire in the southern Algarve region.
Eight places in Portugal broke local temperature records on Thursday, with the high peaking at 47 C in some places.
High risk in the north as well
In northern Europe, Sweden has warned of “a high risk” of wildfires in central and southern Sweden this weekend because of the continuing dry weather and strong winds.
In July, the Scandinavian country witnessed record temperatures and wildfires that extended into the Arctic Circle.
Sweden and Poland have warned against swimming in the Baltic Sea due to a huge bloom of toxic algae caused by hot temperatures.
Read more: Current heat waves are linked to climate change, scientists confirm
France shuts nuclear reactors
In France, energy company EDF halted a fourth nuclear reactor near the Rhine and the Rhone Rivers on Saturday to avoid overheating the rivers.
The nuclear power plants use the water to cool down their reactors before sending the water back into the rivers.
In Germany, state rail operator Deutsche Bahn said it was offering free water to passengers in case of delays. It also said it would keep air conditioning running on its trains even when they are empty.
Much of Germany has also been experiencing an unusually long run of high temperatures, accompanied by much less rainfall than usual. Farmers have requested financial aid from the government to help them cope with low harvests.
Read more: Hot weather exposes World War II munitions in German waters
Swiss army soldiers ditch uniform
Mountain railways in Switzerland have reported booming business as city dwellers flee to the Alps.
Faced with wilting troops, the Swiss Army has allowed soldiers to wear shorts and T-shirts instead of standard uniforms.
Police dogs in the Austrian capital, Vienna, have also been fitted with special shoes to protect them from the scalding streets.
A supermarket in Helsinki, where temperatures are well above average, invited 100 customers to sleep in its air-conditioned store on Saturday.
tj,ap/ls (AP, Reuters, AFP)
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/europe-swelters-as-heat-wave-sizzles-on/a-44957016
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