Large parts of Europe are bracing for another heat wave after record-breaking temperatures in June and July sparked wildfires, dried up rivers, and contributed to thousands of deaths.
On Monday (Aug. 15), areas in the UK and France were placed under extreme heat warnings, with temperatures expected to reach around 35°C.
Tony Grayling, the Environment Agency's director for sustainable development, said: "We know the hot and dry weather is causing real harm to agriculture and will have long-lasting impacts on the environment."
The UK government has imposed irrigation restrictions on farmers and banned hosepipes in some areas. More than 27 million people are living with water use restrictions as Britain prepares for its fifth heat wave of the year.
In France, the government said water use restrictions have been introduced across 70% of the country as drought worsens due to successive heat waves. The restrictions apply to activities such as watering gardens and green spaces, filling swimming pools, washing cars, and irrigating crops.
Spain's national meteorological agency AEMET said Monday that the country recorded its hottest July since records began in 1961, after record high temperatures fueled the largest wildfire in its recent history. Last month was also the driest July in mainland Spain, with just 4.3 mm of rain—equivalent to 26% of the average for that time of year.
Dry conditions are fueling wildfires in Greece and Spain, including in Andalusia, where firefighters are struggling to contain the blazes. Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia's emergency services, told reporters that extinguishing the fires around the medieval town of Niebla was like a "long-distance obstacle course" and was expected to last several days. Sanz said nearly 500 people have been evacuated from the area.
Meanwhile, the BDB inland waterway transport association warned that ships will soon be unable to navigate some sections of the Rhine in Germany due to sharply lower water levels caused by summer heat and low rainfall. Jens Schwanen, the association's managing director, told the Rheinische Post: "With water levels this low, commercial ships will not be able to transport goods in the area. In principle, this means the Rhine is no longer continuously navigable and is divided into two parts."
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on the planet due to climate change. High temperatures are also forecast in Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary in the coming days.
