Extreme Weather Envelops Europe as Heat Wave Grips the UK and Wildfires Engulf France and Portugal

Extreme weather has placed some countries in Europe into a standstill over recent days. The United Kingdom just received its "red extreme heat warning" for the first time, with France and Portugal battling massive wildfires as heat waves wreak havoc across the continent as of Saturday evening, July 16.

In the UK, temperatures could soar above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

In France, two wildfires have engulfed a total land area of at least 27 square miles in the country's southwestern region. There were no immediate reports of casualties from both countries.

In Portugal, wildland fires saw continued dangerous natural disaster, which led to the injury and evacuation of hundreds of people since the fires started last week.

Similar fires have also been reported in Spain and parts of North Africa, including Morocco, and as far as China in East Asia.

The ongoing catastrophic event highlights previous assessments of scientists regarding global warming, which made storms and natural hazards more frequent and intense.

In the case of extreme heat, various research indicated that the rising global temperatures are making heat waves to occur earlier and last longer in line with their seasons.

UK's Red Extreme Heat Warning

(Photo : Photo by Monica Escalera)

UK's Met Office issued on Friday its first red extreme heat warning, which mostly covers southern England where temperatures could spike to approximately 40 degrees Celsius or around 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

The warning is placed for Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and July 19, wherein local authorities cautioned the public to travel only when necessary due to the health risks, including heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses, posed by the abnormally hot weather.

According to The Weather Channel Senior Meteorologist Jonathan Erdman, there is no living person that has witnessed a 40-degree-Celsius temperature in the UK.

The meteorologist compared it to be a hot day at this time of the year to the cities of Dallas or Houston in Texas, United States; and much less in London.

The UK meteorological agency also reportedly said that a temperature that high has never been forecasted in Great Britain.

The highest currently on record was a scorching temperature of 38.7 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in Cambridge back in July 2019.

Also Read: "Cooked Alive" - Baby Swifts Are Suffering from Extreme Heat Wave Reaching 100 Degrees

European Wildfires

Wildfires due to a massive heat wave in Europe have led to thousands of people to be evacuated in France, Portugal, and Spain, as well as in Morocco over the past week.

This comes as the extreme heat brought temperatures reaching more than 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) to most parts of Europe and North Africa, according to The Guardian.

The brunt of the heat wave-triggered wildfires in Portugal left one person dead and at least 135 people injured.

The country's Civil Protection Authority reportedly said around 800 people have been evacuated from their homes since Sunday, July 10.

Portugal had registered 28 active fires, prompting the deployment of at least 2,000 firefighters to quell the blaze as of Thursday, July 14.

Flames started to erupt as some regions of the country recorded unprecedented temperatures on Wednesday, July 13.

Related Article: Certain UK Counties To Experience Scattered Showers Before Massive Heatwave