Europe is preparing for its first major heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as rising temperatures driven by climate change push the continent’s climate into increasingly dangerous territory.
In Rome, temperatures are expected to soar to 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting tourists and pilgrims visiting the Vatican to seek relief at the city’s roughly 2,500 public fountains. Meanwhile, in Marseille, France’s second-largest city, residents face the prospect of nearly 40C (104F). Authorities there have responded by making public swimming pools free to help residents cope with the heat.
Portugal’s capital Lisbon is on high alert as two-thirds of the country prepares for extreme heat and potential forest fires, with temperatures forecasted to reach 42C (108F) on Sunday. Across Italy, visitors and protesters attending Jeff Bezos’s wedding in Venice are also sweltering under the summer sun.
Italian student Sriane Mina told AFPTV in Venice, “I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that’s when you get sunstroke.”
Spain, which has experienced devastating wildfires in recent years, expects peak temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) across most of the country from Sunday. In response, regions like Sicily and Liguria have ordered bans on outdoor work during the hottest hours, with trade unions campaigning for similar measures nationwide.
These heatwaves follow a series of record-breaking temperature events across Europe, including the continent’s hottest March ever, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate monitor. Scientists warn that the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves are direct consequences of global warming fueled by fossil fuel consumption.
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