A mass of hot air moving north from Africa is driving up temperatures in Western Europe, with France on Tuesday becoming the latest to endure unusual heat.
France’s southwestern Gironde region sweltered in 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit), a day after Cordoba in southern Spain recorded nearly 44 C (111 F).
Paris introduced special heat wave measures. They included opening air-conditioned rooms to the public and phoning people who might be especially vulnerable to the heat, primarily the elderly and those who can not leave their homes for medical reasons.
Authorities warned that temperatures could surpass those of 2003, when thousands of people died — many of them retirees who had been left alone while younger relatives vacationed. The government at the time was criticised for failing to respond quickly or decisively enough and has since been extremely quick to react when temperatures start to rise.
After France, the United Kingdom will feel the northern edge of the hot air mass today when temperatures could hit 35 C (95 F), with the warm front possibly blowing Saharan sand into Britain. Both France and the U.K. issued heat alerts.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Temperatures in England started climbing higher Tuesday, with a maximum of just over 30 C (86 F) recorded at Heathrow airport in London, British meteorologists said. On the second day of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, some spectators fanned themselves and used umbrellas for shade from the scorching sun. Health officials advised children and people with lung conditions to take precautions to stay cool and drink plenty of water.
Nicola Maxey of Britain’s Metrological Office said the heat would begin to taper off from Thursday.
Italian authorities forecast temperatures of up to 36 C (97 F) — several degrees above average for this time of year — and also warned of the potential harmful effects on public health.
To get away from the approaching heat, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican and headed to the cooler papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.
(Daily independent)