Record heat in Western Europe: “Intensity of heat moving north from Spain and Portugal staggering” | Instagram VTM News

Portugal The first country where mercury went completely through the roof in recent days. On Thursday, a weather station in the northern city of Pinho recorded 47.0 degrees Celsius, setting a new record temperature for July. Earlier in 1995, Amareleja in the south-east of the country recorded a temperature of 46.5 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in Portugal in August 2003: 47.4 degrees Celsius was in Amareleja.

The heat has caused severe forest fires in Portugal over the past few weeks. From the start of this year to mid-June, 39,550 hectares of trees have already burned – three times more than in the same period last year – and an additional 25,000 hectares have been added in recent weeks. Temperatures finally dropped in Portugal yesterday, which should give the fire service some respite.

The Portuguese Ministry of Health announced last night that 659 people had died from the heat in the past seven days. It mainly concerns the elderly. The peak was recorded on Thursday when 440 people died in temperatures above 40 degrees. A measuring station in the central Portuguese city of Visu even recorded 47 degrees Celsius.

And inside Spain Already broke records last week. Thursday was the hottest night on record in Madrid, with temperatures not dropping below 26.2 degrees Celsius. It was followed by the hottest day in the Spanish capital at 40.7 degrees Celsius. The same feat was achieved on August 14 last year. On Friday, the mercury even soared above 45 degrees in some parts of the country.

At least 360 people have died in Spain due to the heat since last Sunday. This was reported by the Spanish health agency Carlos III to the newspaper ‘La Vanguardia’ yesterday. This mainly applies to the elderly or those who are already sick, but younger people can also be affected by heatstroke. For example, a 60-year-old street sweeper suddenly collapsed on Friday. Emergency services arrived at the scene and reported a body temperature of 41.6 degrees. The man was taken to hospital but died there.

In Spain, authorities advise people to drink plenty of water, postpone physically strenuous activities if possible, and leave the house only in the morning or evening. In the coming days, the mercury is expected to dip below 40 degrees at many places.

It’s also good news for fire departments struggling to contain the country’s many wildfires. More than 3,000 people have already been evacuated from a wildfire near the town of Mijas in the tourist province of Malaga, emergency services said yesterday. In Casas de Miravet, west of Extremadura, 3,000 hectares of forest burned and two villages had to be evacuated. Thick black smoke is also rising in the northwestern regions of Castile and Leon and Galicia.

France suffers the same fate, but the worst is yet to come. Forest fires have been spreading in the Gironde region around Bordeaux since Tuesday and have already destroyed 10,500 hectares of nature, according to the province’s new balance sheet. The fire is still not under control. On Saturday night, several campsites around the Dune du Pilat were again threatened by flames. Thousands of campers have been evacuated earlier as a precaution. Yesterday afternoon, according to officials, the counter stood at 14,000 evacuations.

The Gironde forest fires are the result of extreme heat in France spreading from Portugal and Spain to our region. A peak of heat is expected in our southern neighbors tomorrow, with temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 degrees and higher. 38 of France’s 96 departments have declared a code orange, urging residents to be vigilant.

Same story as in United Kingdom. There, the Met Office, the British weather agency, issued a red code for “extreme heat” for parts of England on Monday and Tuesday for the first time in history. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees. According to the Met Office, ‘life is at risk’, particularly among frail older people.

An emergency meeting of the government was held yesterday afternoon. British Health Minister Steve Barclay called on vulnerable family members, acquaintances and neighbors to take care. Additional ambulance facility has also been provided. Some UK hospitals have said they are planning fewer routine surgeries and tests to maintain capacity for emergencies. British transport companies are advising travelers to only make ‘essential journeys’ by public transport or private transport on Monday and Tuesday.

“The intensity of the heat moving north from Spain and Portugal is simply stunning,” specialist British weather forecaster Scott Duncan said on social media. “The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Extreme Forecast Index (EFI) will hit bottom in Western Europe early next week. The ceiling for what is possible is very high. The question is not if records will be broken, but by how many.

He warns not to underestimate the coming heat. “This heat wave is unprecedented, both during the day and at night,” he added.

Further Belgium They will feel it. Temperatures will rise to 35 degrees tomorrow and 39 degrees on Tuesday – the hottest day. Our meteorologist David Dehanau predicts.

Tomorrow and Tuesday will be orange across the country due to the heat. This means everyone should take action: drink regularly, dress lightly, seek cool rooms during the day, monitor your health regularly, choose easily digestible food in small portions, and finally keep windows and doors closed to prevent heat from entering.

NMBS will cancel 34 peak hour trains on Tuesday due to high temperatures expected. This concerns trains parked in full sun during the day or train equipment that is very sensitive to excessive heat.

And inside Netherlands Actions are taken. According to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), highs of 30 degrees will be exceeded tomorrow, with temperatures even reaching 38 degrees on Tuesday. There is a good chance that a Code Yellow and even a Code Orange will be declared in the south of the country.

Rijkswaterstaat will set a heat protocol from 10am on Monday. Thus, those who are in a bad mood on the roadsides will be removed soon. According to the organization, asphalt temperatures can rise above 50 degrees on tropical days. She recommends bringing plenty of cold water for the trip and an umbrella to create shade. Some bridges are cooled by water to prevent them from opening any longer.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is also preparing to launch a national heating scheme. It helps prevent dehydration and overheating, among other things. This mainly concerns the elderly, children, the chronically ill, residents of care homes and people living in social isolation. The goal is to drink enough and ventilate the house in the morning.

A smog warning is also in effect. Heat may produce smoke. People who are sensitive to smog may experience complaints as a result.