Spain and England have just experienced their hottest June on record, with soaring temperatures maintaining a tight grip on Europe. Aemet, Spain’s weather service, described June as “extremely hot,” boasting an average temperature of 23.6C (74.5F), which shattered previous records, surpassing even the usual averages for July and August. Across the English Channel, the Met Office announced that June’s mean temperature of 16.9C set a new milestone for that month, while the entire UK saw its second warmest June since records began in 1884. In Portugal, mainland areas witnessed a record daily high of 46.6C in June, although the monthly average data is yet to be released. The scorching heatwave has led to wildfires in Turkey, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands, while tragic heat-related deaths occurred in Italy. Overnight on the first day of July, several locations in the Iberian peninsula saw temperatures soar above 43C, but relief was predicted to arrive by Thursday. Night-time temperatures were also unusually high, reaching 28C in Seville and 27C in Barcelona. The UK experienced its hottest day of the year so far with temperatures hitting 34.7C in St James’s Park in London on Tuesday. The previous day, Heathrow Airport recorded the highest daily temperature at 33.1C, while Wimbledon saw its hottest opening day at 32.9C. The Met Office revealed that the UK’s mean temperature for June was the second highest on record at 15.2C, only surpassed by June 2023, which reached 15.8C. In Turkey, wildfires led to the evacuation of over 50,000 people, mainly from Izmir, while firefighters battled numerous blazes across the country. France experienced scorching temperatures, with record highs observed in many cities, including Paris Orly airport recording 37.6C. The Eiffel Tower’s summit was closed due to the extreme heat, and a red alert – the highest extreme heat warning – was activated in the Paris region, along with 15 other French regions. Italy’s Tuscany region reported a 20% increase in hospital admissions due to the heatwave, prompting heat alerts in several cities and regions, with outdoor work restrictions in place. Greece faced temperatures nearing 40C, leading to wildfires near Athens, while Germany anticipated nearly 38C temperatures, impacting the Rhine River’s water levels and shipping activities. The Balkans also struggled with intense heat, with wildfires reported in Montenegro. The rising temperatures posed health risks and environmental challenges, such as invasive species in the Adriatic Sea and accelerated glacier melting. The UN’s human rights chief emphasized the urgency for climate adaptation in response to the heatwave, attributing such extreme weather events to human-induced climate change. As heatwaves become more frequent and severe due to global warming, experts warn of escalating impacts on ecosystems and human health worldwide.
Spain and England have recorded their hottest June ever, with soaring temperatures causing wildfires and evacuations across Europe, highlighting the urgent need for climate adaptation measures.