Dozens of forest fires are raging in Europe. Germany is also hit by the heat wave. It gets very hot in many places – an overview.
Update from Tuesday, July 19, 8:00 a.m .: The heat on Tuesday could make for the warmest day of the year in Germany up to that point – and even shake another record. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), temperatures of 34 to 38 degrees are possible, in the southwest and west up to 40 degrees. Health authorities urge caution and advise: drink a lot and avoid direct sun.
The hottest day so far this year was June 19: According to the weather service, the warmest places were Cottbus and Dresden at 39.2 degrees. DWD spokesman Andreas Friedrich said on Monday: “We can assume that this record will be broken on Tuesday.” According to the DWD, the heat record in Germany is 41.2 degrees – measured on July 25, 2019 in Duisburg. “It is possible that we will come to similar areas along the Rhine on Tuesday,” said Friedrich.
Heat wave in Germany: A consequence of climate change
The spokesman told the newspapers of the Funke media group : “But it really doesn’t matter whether it’s 38 or 40 degrees on Tuesday – there will be a heat wave, you can say that with certainty.” The heat is a result of climate change. “Since the famous “summer of the century” in 2003, we haven’t experienced the 40 degrees every year, but more and more often,” he explained. According to meteorologists, the heat will shift to the east and north-east on Wednesday.
The reason for the midsummer weather is a high over Central Europe, which is slowly moving further east and brings increasingly hot air of subtropical origin from the south-west. The German weather service speaks of a “strong heat load”. Especially weaker people are likely to feel this. In view of the heat-related danger for those in need of care, the social association VdK has called for a heat protection plan with comprehensive specifications for nursing homes. “We urgently need a crisis concept for heat events, which are particularly stressful for people in nursing homes and hospitals,” said VdK President Verena Bentele to the editorial network Germany .
The authorities and fire brigade in Hamburg warned of heat stress. “Drink enough, avoid direct sun and strenuous physical activity, keep your home cool,” recommended the health authority. “Children, the elderly and people with special needs in particular can suffer from too much sun exposure and heat because they cannot accurately assess the risk.”
Heat in Germany: “Sunburn, headaches and sunstroke” as dangers
“Sunburn, headaches and sunstroke from too much direct sunlight are the greatest dangers,” said Jan-Arne Lauffs, head of the central emergency room in the university emergency center in Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
People in other parts of Europe are also suffering from the scorching heat. In the UK, the Met Office said temperatures could rise to as high as 41 degrees in parts of England. The extreme heat caused significant disruption at London’s Luton Airport on Monday. The airport said the surface of the runway had been damaged by the high temperatures. According to reports, several flights had to be canceled or diverted.
Traffic restrictions are also triggered by the weather in France. The Grand Est region in the east of the country imposed restrictions on motorists because of air pollution caused by the sun and heat. The measures that should take effect from Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. include a speed reduction of 20 kilometers per hour on motorways and dual carriageways.
In the Netherlands, the weather service expects maximum temperatures of more than 40 degrees on Tuesday. “Code Oranje” applies: That means people should avoid physical exertion, drink a lot and if possible not go out in the sun. Actually, Europe’s largest hiking event – the “Vierdaagse” from Nijmegen – should start on Tuesday. But the first day of the four-day hiking marathon of more than 50 kilometers a day was canceled due to the high temperatures.
In Italy, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence and Perugia, among others, are affected by hot temperatures and muggy air. In addition, the fire brigades are still on alert and are fighting forest and bush fires nationwide. Civil protection in Sicily announced the highest level of danger for forest fires in some areas on Tuesday.
It also burned in parts of Spain, Portugal and France. According to official estimates, the fires that have been raging for about ten days in Spain have so far destroyed a total of 25,000 hectares of forest and dozens of houses, shops and factories. But there was good news here: the heat wave that has been gripping Spain since July 9 will end on Tuesday, the local weather service Aemet assured. It is also likely to cool down in some areas in western France.
+++ 4:00 p.m .: The DWD expects the “temporary peak” of the heat wave in Germany on Tuesday. According to weather experts, temperatures of up to 40 degrees are possible. In this context, the German Weather Service speaks of “strong thermal stress”. Already on Monday, “dry air of tropical origin” will flow from the southwest to Germany.
A turnaround in the weather is expected on Wednesday (July 20). According to the DWD, Germany is reaching a “cold front” that is cooling down. However, this also increases the risk of thunderstorms. Storms can also occur in some places.
Heat wave hits Germany: forest fire in the national park
+++ 2:00 p.m .: A forest fire broke out in the national park in Saxon Switzerland on Monday. A spokesman for the rescue control center in Dresden said it was burning in impassable terrain near the famous Bastei Bridge. Numerous firefighters from the region are currently in action, it said. It has been burning in the national park since the morning hours.
Update from Monday, July 18, 12:00 p.m .: Southern Europe is currently suffering from the extreme heat. The very high temperatures will probably also affect Germany. On Tuesday (July 19) there should be more than 35 degrees Celsius in many places, and the 40-degree limit should also be broken in some places. The German Weather Service predicts this in a situation report.
The Marburger Bund medical association therefore called for a national heat plan. “Politicians must significantly expand their efforts for protective measures in heat phases,” said Susanne Johna, chairwoman of the editorial network Germany . Municipalities and cities in Germany need protection plans, especially for old and sick people, she demanded. The union Ver.di meanwhile demanded relief for employees. “In extreme heat, of course, we demand longer breaks or an earlier end of work – without heat – even if there is no legal entitlement to this,” demanded Norbert Reuter, head of the collective bargaining policy department at Ver.di, in an interview with the RND .
First report from Sunday, July 17, 1:00 p.m.: Frankfurt – Millions of tourists want to go on vacation again largely carefree this summer after two years of Corona. At the moment, however, this only seems possible to a limited extent.
Due to the extreme drought and strong winds, forest fires are raging in large parts of Europe. Fire brigades are on duty almost continuously to bring the flames under control in popular holiday regions, among others.
Forest fires rage in Europe: At least 360 people die in Spain
Spain has been plagued by persistent drought and extreme heat with temperatures of up to 45 degrees for months. According to the meteorological institute Aemet, this should last at least until Monday (July 18). Then there should be some cooling down to around 35 degrees. However, the current heat wave has killed at least 360 people in Spain. This was reported by the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia on Saturday (July 17), citing information from the Carlos III state health institute. Older people or people with previous illnesses are particularly affected.
Agriculture is also suffering from the persistent heat. Many people had to leave their homes because of the flames. “I burned 130 beehives,” a farmer in the western Spanish region of Caceres told Spanish state TV broadcaster RTVE . Many animals die by fire, others die of thirst due to drought. “It will take years for the landscape to recover here,” said an observer of the flames raging in Monfragüe National Park.
Forest fires in Europe: State of emergency in Portugal
Something similar is happening in neighboring Portugal . Fires have been raging on the Iberian Peninsula for a week, which is why the state of emergency applies up to and including Sunday. Accordingly, no campfires should be lit in the forest. In addition, staying in forests is generally very limited. Between July 7 and July 13, 238 people died due to the heat, the Lusa news agency reported.
Fire in Italy: bathers save themselves in the sea
The fires are also raging in the popular holiday destination of Italy . “A quarter of the forest fires were probably caused by cigarette butts. Any risky behavior that could cause a forest fire must be avoided at all costs,” said Arnold Schuler, Provincial Forestry Councilor of South Tyrol. At the popular bathing resort of Bibione, visitors escaped the flames into the sea on Friday (July 15). While the highest level of danger was declared in Sicily for Sunday, authorities in Sardinia also warned of forest fires.
Due to the dry winter and spring, the north of Italy is particularly affected by drought, and water bodies have less water than usual. Authorities warn against jumping into Lake Garda given the low water level. Fountains were turned off in Milan and Venice. The government in Rome declared the drought emergency in five regions:
- Lombardy
- Piedmont
- Veneto
- Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Emilia Romagna
Danger of forest fires in Europe: dozens of fires in Greece every day
Greece has so far been spared the severe heat in Western Europe, but it is still hot and dry. Dozens of forest fires break out every day. Even if these can usually be contained quickly, the flames spread almost unhindered in strong winds. On Wednesday (July 13) two crew members died when a fire-fighting helicopter crashed in Greece.
The second highest warning level therefore applies in some regions around Athens and the islands of Crete and Euboea, Lesbos and Samos as well as for the north-east of the Peloponnese peninsula. Tourists, but also locals, must expect that towns and villages could be evacuated as a precautionary measure due to an approaching fire.
Fires in Europe: rail traffic in France affected
There is also a high risk of forest fires in southern France . Devastating forest fires have been raging south of Bordeaux for days, according to the responsible prefecture of the Gironde department. The heat should continue for the time being, there doesn’t seem to be any rain for the time being. Heat warnings are now also in North-West Brittany.
Because of forest fire warnings in the southern regions of France, such as on the Atlantic coast south of Bordeaux, forest and country roads may not be entered or driven on. In the heat, the rails heat up, which is why the trains of the French SNCF sometimes run slower in high temperatures and delays can occur.
While it was comparatively cool in Germany , there should be maximum values of up to 40 degrees in the coming days. According to a forecast by the German Weather Service (DWD), the peak of the heat, especially in the southwest and west, should be reached on Tuesday (July 19). (kas/tu with AFP/dpa)
