Extreme heat: Half of Europe's population exposed to temperatures exceeding 30C

Key Points:

• A new heatwave is impacting Europe, with over half the continent's population facing temperatures above 30°C and at least 92 million people experiencing temperatures over 35°C, particularly in Western and Southern Europe including France, Italy, and Spain.
• Spain and France are under heat alerts, with temperatures expected to exceed 35°C in many regions, while France faces a 20% reduction in nuclear power capacity due to drought, heat, and jellyfish clogging cooling pumps.
• The Balkans, especially Greece and the Adriatic coast, are also affected by persistent heat causing severe drought, energy strain, crop damage, and wildfires, with Scotland under wildfire warnings and the UK preparing an emergency government response.
• The UK is on track for its warmest summer on record, with temperatures forecast to reach 35-37°C in several areas, prompting an Amber Extreme Heat Warning from the Met Office.
• Europe, the fastest-warming continent, has experienced successive heatwaves and severe wildfires this summer, with scientists linking the increased frequency of extreme fire-prone weather to climate change.