Europe's early heat wave shatters records, brings deaths : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- The UK broke a century-old temperature record for the second consecutive day, with London reaching 95.2°F, surpassing the previous record of 91.4°F set in 1922, amid a spring heat wave affecting Western Europe.
- France also experienced record-breaking temperatures, with highs of 97°F in the southwest and unusually warm nights, attributed to a "heat dome" caused by a high-pressure weather front.
- The heat wave has led to multiple drownings in the UK and France as people sought relief in lakes, reservoirs, and the sea, with at least four teenagers and several others reported dead.
- Authorities issued health warnings, including an amber alert in the UK, highlighting risks to vulnerable populations, especially older people, due to the country's lack of widespread air conditioning.
- The extreme weather, linked to climate change, has also affected Spain and Italy, with temperatures far above normal for May, including 100°F in Seville and 89°F expected in Rome.