Why are Spaniards suffering from the second heat wave?
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(CNN) --
Following the second-warmest June on record, Western Europe is bracing for its second dangerous summer heat wave.
The UK, Portugal, Spain and France are facing record temperatures this week, with little relief in sight.
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The hot conditions will continue to worsen the forest fires that are burning in southwestern Europe.
There are level 3 heat alerts, the highest possible, in 14 states in Portugal and eastern Spain until the end of the week.
Record heat in the UK
On Monday, the UK Met Office issued a "rare" amber extreme heat advisory for Sunday July 17, as hot temperatures look set to pick up later this week across much of England and Wales.
"Heat health alerts have been issued across most of the country, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout this week," said Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency. United.
The record high temperature in the UK is 38.7°C, which could be exceeded this weekend, according to the weather office.
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"Some models indicate that maximum temperatures will exceed 40C in parts of the UK over the next weekend and beyond," said Rebekah Sherwin of the weather office.
As the country prepares, authorities warn of dangers for vulnerable communities.
Families cool off in the River Darent on July 12, 2022 in Eynsford, UK.
A level 2 heat health alert has been issued in the south and east of England.
Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
"Adverse health effects are likely to occur throughout the population, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, which can lead to serious illness or be life-threatening," the weather bureau said.
"Significantly more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers, which will put them at greater risk of water safety incidents."
The UK could also see road closures due to thawing surfaces, as well as delays to train and air travel amid extreme heat.
Spain records the worst forest fire in a century 0:47
Spain, Portugal, France and Italy
Before the heat moves into the UK, it will bring scorching heat to Spain and Portugal, where "extreme" heat alerts, the highest level, have been issued for 14 states in both countries.
In Lisbon and Santarém temperatures of 45 °C could be reached already on Wednesday.
The heat wave is expected to continue at least until the end of the week on the peninsula, Spain's national weather service reported on Monday.
But it is not only the Iberian Peninsula that is suffocating with the heat.
France will also continue to be hot until the end of the week, reaching temperatures of around 30°C.
Heat alerts cover parts of eastern France, including Toulouse and Bordeaux.
The European region is all too familiar with this.
Last month, Europe hit record high temperatures and its second-warmest June on record.
"Daily maximum temperatures in Spain, France and Italy soared above 40°C and extreme heat exacerbated current drought conditions in the Po River basin," the European Climate Change Service Copernicus said.
Much of Italy has also suffered from a summer heat wave.
Highs of 38 °C will be reached in Verona on Friday.
Eleven people died on July 3 after an ice avalanche hit the Marmolada glacier in the Italian Alps.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi blamed the collapse on "the deterioration of the environment and the climatic situation."
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The Italian government last week declared a state of emergency for five regions in northern Italy due to extreme drought.
"Most of us can enjoy the warm weather when it arrives, but it's also important to stay hydrated and seek shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.," said Dr. Dr Sousa.
"If you have vulnerable family, friends and neighbors, make sure they are aware of how they can keep themselves protected from hot weather."
The threat of forest fires
Several basins in Portugal are currently showing clear signs of the consequences of the current drought.
An example is the Aldo Lindoso reservoir, which is currently only at 15.8% of its capacity.
Thirty-five forest fires in Portugal have so far left 29 injured, the Portuguese Civil Protection department reported at a press conference on Saturday.
The European Commission mobilized its fleet of firefighters to help Portugal, and according to CNN Portugal, more than 80 municipalities in 10 districts are at maximum risk of fire in the coming days.
The Ourém fire, 128.7 kilometers north of Lisbon, Portugal, has razed nearly 2,000 hectares since July 7.
It is currently the largest in the region, while hundreds of firefighters work to contain it.
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The heat will increase the risk of fires with advancing drought conditions.
The Portuguese government declared a "state of contingency" to strengthen emergency services in the face of the heat wave.
Most of the country is in "extreme" to "very extreme" fire danger throughout the week, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.
In Coruche, Santarém, a maximum temperature of 48 °C could be reached on Thursday, which would break a historical record in Portugal, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
The IPMA also said that more than 96% of the country is experiencing "severe" to "extreme" drought, the two highest levels, creating a dry environment that can easily spark wildfires.
The critical period for fires in Portugal runs from July 1 to September 30.
During the period of extreme fire risk, recreational campfires, burning of debris, fireworks or fires of any kind are prohibited.
Some forest spaces may also be restricted to unauthorized persons.
-- Sharon Braithwaite, Duarte Mendonca, Al Goodman, and Benjamin Brown contributed reporting.
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