Europe's Heat Wave Sets New Records

On Tuesday, Britain broke its all-time high temperature record amid a heat wave that has scorched much of Europe, with the U.K.'s national weather service indicating that such extreme temperatures are becoming a reality for a nation unprepared for them.

This typically mild country is the latest to suffer from the unusual hot, dry spell that has sparked wildfires from Portugal to the Balkans and resulted in hundreds of heat-related fatalities. Disturbing images of flames nearing a French beach and Britons suffering in the heat—even at coastal areas—underscore the growing worries about climate change.

The U.K. Met Office recorded a provisional high of 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit in Coningsby, eastern England, surpassing the previous record set just hours before. Prior to Tuesday, the highest temperature ever documented in Britain was 101.7 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in 2019. By the end of the day, 29 locations across the United Kingdom had exceeded this benchmark.

As the country looked on with a mix of dread and intrigue, Met Office chief scientist Stephen Belcher remarked that such temperatures in Britain would be “virtually impossible” without the influence of human-driven climate change.

He cautioned that “we could experience temperatures like this every three years” unless there is meaningful action on carbon emissions.

The oppressive heat has disrupted transportation, healthcare, and educational institutions. Many residences, small businesses, and even public facilities like hospitals in Britain lack air conditioning, highlighting how unusual such heat is in a country more recognized for its rain and mild climate.

The extreme temperatures since Monday have caused damage to the runway at London’s Luton Airport, necessitating its closure for several hours, and have distorted a major road in eastern England, leaving it resembling a “skatepark,” according to police. On Tuesday, major train stations were either closed or nearly empty as services were canceled or operated at reduced speeds due to concerns that the tracks might buckle.

London faced what Mayor Sadiq Khan described as a “significant increase” in fires due to the heat. The London Fire Brigade reported battling 10 significant blazes across the city on Tuesday, half of which were grass fires. Images depicted several homes consumed by flames as smoke billowed from burning fields in Wennington, a village on London’s eastern fringe.

At one retailer, Asda, sales of fans surged by 1,300 percent. Electric fans provided relief to the traditionally mounted troops of the Household Cavalry as they stood guard in central London clad in heavy ceremonial uniforms. Other guards limited their duties to avoid the heat. Normally bustling with walkers, Hyde Park was strangely quiet—except for the long queues to swim in the Serpentine lake.

“I’m heading to my office because it’s nice and cool,” said 31-year-old geologist Tom Elliott after enjoying a swim. “I’m cycling instead of taking the Tube.”

Staying steadfast, Queen Elizabeth II continued her work. The 96-year-old monarch conducted a virtual meeting with new U.S. ambassador Jane Hartley from the comfort of Windsor Castle.

A significant portion of England, stretching from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north, remained under the country’s first “red” warning for extreme heat on Tuesday, indicating a risk of death even for healthy individuals.

Intense heat gripping Europe

Britain wasn’t the only northern European nation facing extreme heat. As Amsterdam sweltered on Tuesday, municipal workers sprayed water on mechanical bridges over the city’s canals to prevent the metal from expanding and potentially jamming, which could hinder boat traffic. Temperatures in Amsterdam were forecasted to reach nearly 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday.

At least six individuals were reported to have drowned while attempting to cool off in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs across the U.K. In Spain and neighboring Portugal, nearly 750 heat-related fatalities have been documented during the ongoing heat wave.

Climate experts caution that global warming has heightened the frequency of extreme weather events, with studies indicating that the chances of the U.K. experiencing temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit are now 10 times greater than in the pre-industrial era.

The leader of the U.N. weather agency expressed hope that the heat enveloping Europe would act as a “wake-up call” for governments to take stronger action on climate change. Other scientists emphasized that this pivotal moment calls for urgent action.

“Although still uncommon, [104 degrees Fahrenheit] has become a reality of British summers,” stated Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change. “Whether this becomes a frequent occurrence or remains relatively rare is in our hands and will depend on when and at what global mean temperature we achieve net zero.”

Droughts and heat waves linked to climate change have also made wildfires more prevalent and difficult to combat.

In the Gironde region of southwestern France, fierce wildfires continued to ravage tinder-dry pine forests, complicating firefighting efforts involving over 2,000 firefighters and water-dropping aircraft.

According to Gironde authorities, tens of thousands of individuals have been evacuated from their homes and vacation destinations since the fires ignited on July 12.

A smaller fire erupted late Monday in the Medoc wine region north of Bordeaux, further straining resources. Five camping sites were consumed by flames in the beach area along the Atlantic coast, where fires were raging around the Arcachon maritime basin, renowned for its oysters and resorts.

In Greece, a significant forest fire ignited northeast of Athens, fueled by strong winds. Fire Service officials reported the deployment of nine firefighting aircraft and four helicopters in efforts to prevent the flames from advancing into populated areas on the slopes of Mount Penteli, located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of the capital. Smoke from the blaze obscured parts of the city’s skyline.

However, weather forecasts brought some relief, indicating that temperatures along the Atlantic coast are expected to cool on Tuesday, with the potential for rain arriving later in the day.