Record Breaking Heatwave Bakes Western Europe This Week

During the last week, regions of Western Europe saw record-breaking heat, with temperatures in the United Kingdom topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time since records started.

On Tuesday, numerous weather stations in London, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire exceeded the 40-degree mark, with Coningsby, Lincolnshire, reaching 40.3 degrees.

A total of 39 stations in central and southern England also beat the previous high-temperature record of 38.7 degrees Celsius, which was established in July 2019

Heatwaves in the UK tumbled

(Photo : PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP via Getty Images)

The central England temperature (CET), a daily temperature record dataset dating back to 1772, reported the highest ever day average temperature of 28.1 degrees Celsius, an amazing 2.8 degrees Celsius higher than the previous record, as per The Guardian.

Temperature records fell in several other European nations, with 64 different regions in France setting new highs and temperatures in Portugal hitting 47 degrees Celsius on Thursday, a July record.

The dangerously high temperatures have had far-reaching implications, with Portugal reporting over 1,000 heat-related deaths since last week.

Since Monday, at least 13 individuals have died in open water-related events in the United Kingdom.

For the first time, temperatures in the UK exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Germany saw the warmest day of the year so far, while Portugal increased its death toll following days of extreme heat.

The continent has been ravaged by deadly wildfires. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations warned that worse was on the way.

Because of human-caused climate change, heatwaves have grown more common, more severe, and stay longer.

Read more: Heatwave to Hit the UK in April and Climate Change is to Blame: Met Office Forecast

A possibility of wildfires across Europe

Wildfires have raged throughout sections of Europe and Northern Africa, evacuating 37,000 people in France as a result of the worst wildfire in 30 years, as per BBC.

In the Gironde area alone, more than 20,000 hectares (49,500 acres) of land were destroyed. Wildfires in northern Morocco have been aggravated by strong winds, and firemen are still battling the flames.

Several fires have broken out across England and Wales, with the London Fire Brigade declaring a major emergency.

The number of calls to the service quadrupled early this week, with Tuesday being the busiest day in the city since World War II.

A massive fire engulfed properties in Wennington, east London. Residents who had to be evacuated told the BBC that the fire had burned eight homes and maybe a nearby church, while a firefighter on the site described it as "total carnage."

On Monday, 64 separate places in France set new records for high temperatures.

Although the all-time high for mainland France has not been surpassed, the country's southwest has seen its worst flames in more than 30 years.

Fires have consumed more than 20,300 hectares (49,400 acres) of the wine-growing Gironde region since July 12.

A fire broke out in the dunes of the Belgian resort of De Haan, igniting many automobiles. However, following the intense heat, the country is now bracing itself for thunderstorms, which might result in 20-30mm of rain in certain areas, according to Le Soir newspaper.

Weather warnings remain in effect in Germany as the heatwave moves north and east.

The nation had its warmest day of 2022 on Tuesday. In the western city of Duisburg, the national meteorological service registered 39.5 degrees Celsius. Forecasters predicted that the Netherlands will reach the same high of 39.5 degrees Celsius in Maastricht.

Temperatures in Portugal have dropped dramatically. However, over 1,000 heat-related fatalities have been reported in the last week.

Related article: Heatwave 2022: Scorching Temperatures Recorded in India and Pakistan for April