London, June 24: Europe is currently grappling with an intense heatwave, breaking several years’ worth of temperature records. The impact on daily life has become evident over the past two days. In the UK, train services have been slightly disrupted, while France has experienced power outages that left many residents frustrated. Meanwhile, several countries have issued red heatwave alerts.
In the UK, train delays have been reported due to the extreme weather. Transport officials have urged people to avoid traveling on Wednesday and Thursday. Travelers have been warned to be prepared for “disrupted journeys.” National Rail has indicated potential disruptions to Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, and Thameslink services through Friday.
Many schools are closing early or remaining shut entirely. In Somerset, nearly 100 schools will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. In Buckinghamshire, about 100 schools will partially close, while 86 schools in Gloucestershire will be affected.
Amid the record-breaking heat, approximately 68,000 homes in western France lost power on Wednesday. According to officials, this marks the first major power outage during the current heatwave.
Tuesday was recorded as the hottest day in France, with an average temperature of 29.8 degrees Celsius. The weather department predicts temperatures could soar to between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius by the weekend, with nighttime temperatures remaining between 23 and 28 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, in recent days, 40 people have drowned while swimming in unsafe locations in France. Government data indicates that over 90% of the French population is currently affected by extreme heat, with temperatures in many areas ranging from 39 to 41 degrees Celsius.
Several European countries are battling this unprecedented heatwave, which has shattered numerous records. Italy’s health ministry has issued a red alert for Wednesday in 16 cities, including Milan and Rome.
Experts attribute the extreme heat to atmospheric conditions and stagnant air, which trap hot air in one place for several days. Global warming has exacerbated this situation.
In the Netherlands, a ‘Code Orange’ alert has been issued for the central and southern regions from Wednesday through at least Friday. Residents in Amsterdam with city passes can enjoy free swimming at six outdoor pools, while the national rail company has decided to reduce train services on several routes due to the heat.
In the coming days, this heatwave is expected to spread to Eastern Europe. The Polish weather department has issued warnings for high temperatures in the western part of the country from Thursday to Saturday. Additionally, a red alert has been declared for Croatia’s Adriatic coast on Friday and Saturday.
Hungary, already under a second-level heat alert, has decided to escalate to the highest alert level from Saturday to Tuesday due to the continuous rise in temperatures.
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