Paris: A severe heatwave swept across much of Europe today, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees C, prompting widespread warnings, disruptions to transportation, and indications of its impact on wildlife and tourist destinations.
According to Qatar News Agency, the heatwave has raised concerns about an early and prolonged onset of extreme weather conditions, coinciding with the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which typically marks the beginning of the three hottest months of the year.
After days of temperatures exceeding 35 degrees C, Italian authorities issued a red alert today for extreme heat in eight cities, including Bologna, Florence, Milan, and Turin. The extreme heat is attributed to a mass of hot air that has pushed northward from the Sahara Desert, driven by what is known as the African High.
The Spanish meteorological agency also issued red and orange warnings for several regions, cautioning that temperatures could exceed 39 and 40 degrees C across large parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Mallorca. It said the heatwave would continue at least until the end of the week. The extreme heat has already begun to affect infrastructure.
Jean Castex, head of the French national railway company SNCF, speaking from the Gare Montparnasse station in Paris, said the network was "severely affected" by the high temperatures, which threaten to damage overhead power lines and cause the tracks to expand. He added that 3,500 employees had been deployed to monitor the network and another 2,000 to carry out emergency repairs. He urged passengers who might be affected by these conditions to postpone their travel by train. The company canceled 71 train services on major intercity lines until Monday.
Wildlife rescuers also warned of the consequences of the heatwave. Experts say these developments reflect a broader trend, as heat waves in Europe have become more frequent and intense due to climate change.