Heatwaves and Wildfires Hit Southern Europe

Swathes of southern Europe are currently facing a very serious risk of wildfires as heatwaves hit popular holiday spots in Spain, Portugal, and France. Authorities have issued warnings, with parts of southern Europe seeing fire danger levels go from bad to worse.

The fire risk map from the European Union shows dark shades of orange and red covering many areas, including Portugal, southern France, most of Italy, and parts of Greece and Turkey. With high temperatures already affecting the region, the risk of forest fires has significantly increased.

In Greece, evacuations have been ordered on the island of Evia due to nearby fires, and firefighters are currently battling blazes in the seaside town of Shengjin in Albania. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, local reports indicate that firefighters are using planes and helicopters to fight a fire that has spread over 7 kilometers.

Tragically, an elderly man in North Macedonia lost his life due to ongoing wildfires that started earlier in July. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented that the country is dealing with a «very difficult summer» and warned that the month of August could be just as challenging.

Despite the high fire risk, most of the current wildfires have been contained to smaller areas. This situation is compounded by the extremely high temperatures and dry soil, as much of Europe has experienced above-average temperatures throughout the spring and early summer, turning forests into tinderboxes.

For those planning summer vacations, temperatures in Mallorca are expected to soar to 37°C (98.6°F), while Albufeira in Portugal can anticipate 35°C (95°F). In Malaga, it may reach 38°C (100.4°F) and across southern France, temperatures are predicted to hit the high 30s Celsius.

According to weather experts, this relentless heat across south-west Europe isn’t easing anytime soon. The forecast indicates that temperatures will likely rise in eastern regions like Romania and Bulgaria, potentially reaching the low to mid-forties.

The ongoing heatwave has led to drought conditions affecting over 10% of EU land, particularly in central and southern Italy, north-western Spain, Greece, and Turkey. In Sicily, an Italian navy tanker has had to deliver 12 million litres of water to help combat the drought.

It’s crucial to note that southern Europe has long faced heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, even before the climate became a major concern. However, experts believe that higher global temperatures are worsening these conditions. Notably, the drought that affected much of the Northern Hemisphere in 2022 was attributed to climate change.

As we look at the future, many European nations are transitioning away from fossil fuels, with wind and solar power now outpacing fossil fuel use in electricity generation, according to recent research from think tank Ember.