Europe is bracing for a new heat wave: temperatures in Germany are expected to reach 39°C
More than half of Europe’s population is expected to face a new wave of extreme heat. In France, Italy, and Spain, about 92 million people are expected to experience temperatures above 35°C on Wednesday, while temperatures could exceed 30°C for approximately 300 million residents of the continent, according to Deutsche Welle.
In Germany, temperatures of up to 34°C were forecast for Wednesday. According to the German Weather Service, temperatures in many areas of western and southern Germany could rise to 37°C on Thursday and to 39°C on Friday. This new heat wave will be the third in Germany this summer.
The prolonged heat and drought have already caused record-low water levels in certain sections of the Rhine. The river is one of Europe’s main waterways for transporting grain, minerals, fuel, and other goods. Due to shallow waters, cargo ships are forced to reduce their loads, and businesses that rely on river transport are facing supply disruptions.
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The European climate change service Copernicus reported that June and July in Western Europe were the warmest on record. According to its data, temperatures in Europe are rising twice as fast as on other continents.
The heatwave is also forecast to spread to Greece, Albania, and Croatia, while in the United Kingdom, tens of millions of people are preparing for temperatures above 30°C. The country’s meteorological service stated that this summer could be the hottest on record. In France and Spain, a new heat wave is arriving just a few weeks after some of the worst wildfires these countries have ever faced.
In Spain, where several wildfires are still burning, authorities are implementing additional safety measures due to the mass viewing of the total solar eclipse. More than 33,000 law enforcement officers have been deployed to viewing sites and the roads leading to them. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca urged visitors not to start fires, leave trash behind, or park their cars among dry vegetation.
