LONDON: Temperature records toppled as a spring heat wave continued to scorch parts of Western Europe on Tuesday, triggering government warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down.
Record Temperatures in the UK
London recorded a rare "tropical night," defined as one in which the temperature does not fall below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Britain's Met Office weather service said the temperature in southern England could reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. Monday was the UK's hottest May day on record, with the temperature hitting 34.8 degrees Celsius (94.6 degrees Fahrenheit) at Kew Gardens in London, smashing the previous record of 32.8 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit) set in 1922 and 1944.
France Also Sees Records
Records also fell in France, where temperatures reached 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday in the country's southwest and widely remained above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. The national weather service, Meteo-France, said a "heat dome," with heat held in place by a high-pressure weather front, was producing temperatures more than 10 degrees Celsius above what used to be usual for this time of year.
Extreme Weather Becoming More Frequent
Unpredictable and extreme weather are becoming more frequent as Earth's warming builds. Experts say unprecedented and deadly weather extremes that sometimes strike at abnormal times and in unusual places are putting more people in danger.
Impact on Daily Life
After a UK long weekend that sent people flocking to beaches, pools and shady parks, London commuters sweltered on Tuesday in subway carriages without air conditioning. Trains to and from the busy Waterloo station were disrupted by a report of smoke on the tracks. In Scotland, firefighters worked through the night to douse a grass fire that sent smoke billowing from Arthur's Seat, the rocky hill that looms over Edinburgh.
Health Warnings Issued
The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber health alert for large parts of the country through Thursday, warning of a potential health risk, particularly among older people, at the hottest times of the day. The UK is used to moderate temperatures, and many homes, schools and businesses do not have air conditioning.
Drownings Reported
At least three teenagers died in apparent drownings in UK lakes and reservoirs, and a 60-year-old man died in the sea in southwest England, authorities said. French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said there have been reports of at least seven deaths potentially related to high temperatures, including five drownings and two deaths in sports competitions. The early heat wave has struck before the annual summer window when lifeguards watch over bathers at popular beaches, increasing risks. On France's Atlantic seaboard, where magnificent beaches have powerful riptides, officials reported a rash of emergencies in the surf, with two drowning deaths on Sunday at popular resorts in the Gironde region in the southwest. The top regional administrator, Sophie Brocas, urged beachgoers "to exercise the utmost caution."
Heat Extends to Spain and Italy
The unseasonable heat extended to Spain, where weather service spokesperson Ruben del Campo said "we find ourselves with temperatures we normally see in the middle of the summer now in the month of May." He said Seville hit 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) over the weekend, while large parts of the peninsula saw temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal. And in Rome, temperatures were expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.
