Sun rises near Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, June 24, 2019. Germany expects hot temperatures during the next days. AP
JULY 1st 2019
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily
Temperature Alerts Across Europe Decrease as Heatwave Calms
A heatwave lasting four days that had swept across all Western Europe and was even thought to have killed seven people finally began to ease up on Sunday. Temperature alerts were decreased in severity, as the temperatures died down and wildfires were brought under control.
The majority of the fires that had broken out due to the heatwave in Spain were brought under control during this period, though not without a struggle. Firefighters were faced with the challenge of trying to control a fire in the central provinces of Toledo and Madrid, that had ravaged and burned through more than 20 square km of woodland since Friday.
The temperature had even hit a boiling 42.4 Celsius In the North-Eastern town of La Almunia de Dona Godina, posing a fair danger to many civilians. Since this, five of Spain’s fifty provinces were reduced from an “extreme” temperature risk warning, as temperatures calmed gradually. This had, in the process, left only two provinces remaining at the highest risk level, and 31 on weather alert.
It’s been recorded that five of Europe’s hottest summers in the last 500 years have all transpired in this present century.
A national record of 45.9 Celsius was recorded in the south of France on Friday, right before temperatures were set to fall after the heatwave’s peak. Certain measures were taken during the event, such as In Paris, where a ban had been imposed on older cars to counter heat-related pollution (banning 60% of all vehicles as a result) was announced by authorities to likely to be lifted on Monday.
A wine producer living in France’s South-Western Herault region by the name of Jerome Despey recently tweeted photos of shrivelled grapes, and complained of “widespread damage” as a cause of said heatwaves.
Meteorologists believe that a weakening of the high-level jet stream is gradually causing weather systems to stall, and in the process leading summer temperatures to rocket skyward. This week, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated that the European heatwave had been “absolutely consistent” with results linked to the rising issues of greenhouse gas emissions.
3000 athletes took part in an Iron Man endurance race despite the heat in Frankfurt, an event that saw far more potential danger this year than it did the last due to temperatures. Sebastian Kienle, who finished second in the men’s race, said that “It felt like a race against global warming - you could have fried an egg on my head.”
Race leader Sarah True of the United States in the women’s event had collapsed within only a kilometre of the finish line of the closing marathon stage, out of light-headedness and dehydration. At the post-race news conference, she explained that she was feeling much better, but could not recollect any memory of the final few kilometres of the race. True had high hopes for the race, having already completed a 3.8 km swim and 185 km bike ride before. She had carried off the course by first aid workers during her collapse.
Pope Francis said he was praying for those who’d been suffering the most from the heatwave. In particular, the elderly, the sickly, construction workers and those who had to labour outdoors, having been addressing thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square. “May no-one be abandoned or exploited,” he said to the crowd.
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily
