Extreme heat: Half of Europe's population exposed to heatwave

Yet another heatwave has struck Europe, with more than half of the continent’s population forecast to see temperatures of above 30 degrees Celcius on Wednesday, while areas home to at least 92 million will see temperatures over 35 degrees Celcius.

The most intense heat is expected across Western and Southern Europe, with France, Italy and Spain among the hardest-hit countries.

Much of Spain is under alert on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to climb above 35 degrees Celsius across the northwest to the southeast of the country.

Also in France, temperatures are expected to reach similar levels in some regions, while cooler conditions are forecast in the northeast and mountainous areas.

France recorded a 20% shortfall in its nuclear power generation capacity on Wednesday, with the record outage attributed to drought, extreme heat and a jellyfish invasion that clogged pumps used to cool the reactors, French newspaper Le Monde reported.

According to experts, overfishing, plastic pollution and warmer waters linked to climate change have created conditions favourable to reproduction of jellyfish.

The heatwave also extends into the Balkans, particularly Greece and the Adriatic coast. Persistent high temperatures across the region have contributed to severe drought, placing strain on national energy systems, damaging crops and fuelling wildfires.

Wildfire warnings also continue to be in place for large parts of Scotland, several British media outlets report, as the UK government prepares to hold an emergency Cobra committee in response to the extreme heat.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will chair the committee, which will mark the nation’s second meeting of its sort this year after another one took place in June.

“Temperatures will rise quickly tomorrow, with many areas reaching 35°C+ and highs of 36-37°C possible, especially across the Midlands, east and southeast,” the Met Office wrote on X, adding that an Amber Extreme Heat Warning has been activated.

The United Kingdom is on course to record its “warmest summer on record,” according to the country’s national weather service.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent and the first two months of summer have been marked by successive heatwaves, scorching temperatures and bone-dry conditions.

France and Spain have battled their worst infernos in living memory this summer, while other nations in Europe and as well as the US northwest and Canada have also experienced serious blazes.

Scientists warn the frequency of extreme fire-prone weather in Europe is increasing with climate change.

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