Boiling Europe: Heat Peaks Measured in Several Countries | Israel today

A heat wave extending from the Mediterranean basin to the North Sea has created particularly difficult conditions for the inhabitants of Western Europe, who are not accustomed to such situations. 

This is the first heat wave this year for this region of the continent, and already on Friday seasonal records were broken when temperatures jumped in some places to levels that are usually recorded only in July or August, probably due to the climate change trend. 

"In some parts of Spain and France temperatures are 10 degrees higher than average for this time of year," said a spokeswoman for an environmental organization in Geneva.

Another UN climate agency source told the American NPR network that "heat waves are starting to arrive earlier and earlier every year, and are becoming more frequent and more severe because of greenhouse gases, which are at unprecedented levels.

In France, about 18 million people (about a third of the country) are under the influence of the 40-degree heat wave in some areas, resulting in masses coming to public fountains to alleviate the heat crisis, including in the fountains near the Eiffel Tower.

In the country, where about 15,000 people died due to the 2003 heat wave, steps have been taken since then to deal with heat waves.

In light of these lessons, in recent days children have been allowed not to attend school in 14 administrative areas in a country where the heat has been particularly severe.

Special teams have also been brought to nursing homes and other facilities where there are vulnerable populations to make sure tenants are getting enough fluids.

Also, in the Bordeaux region public gatherings in areas without air conditioning were banned.

"Everyone has a health concern right now," said a senior local administration official.

In Paris it was decided to limit the travel speed of vehicles to lower the haze. 

In Spain, forecasters said it was the earliest heatwave the country had known in 40 years, with temperatures of 42 degrees, and in France it was the earliest heatwave ever recorded.

In the town of Biarritz in the south of France the all-time high temperature was broken.

Records were also recorded in Switzerland and Germany. 

In the UK, the hottest day of the year was recorded, with 32.4 degrees at Heathrow Airport and 33.1 degrees at the official British Service Service measuring station - the hottest temperature ever recorded in June.

If that wasn’t enough, at the Royal Horse Ascato Week horse racing event held annually, attendees were allowed to remove their hats in the light of the heavy heat, provided they were not in the presence of royalty. 

Fires broke out in Germany, including south of the capital Berlin.

In Rome the temperature had already reached 37 on Friday and was supposed to reach 38 on Saturday.

A number of fires also broke out in Spain. 

Many parts of Western Europe do not have air conditioners in public facilities, so residents are not used to such temperatures.

Although the heat wave broke on Saturday in France, its peak will be recorded in Germany on Sunday.

Either way, particularly high temperatures from Spain to Poland will continue for the next few days

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