Dangerous highs of 118F are expected in parts of central Spain as the heatwave continues to consume the continent, with health warnings issued in 41 of the country's 50 provinces.
And eight locations, in central, south and east of Portugal have already broken local temperature records due to the Iberian Plume.
While a Finnish supermarket in Helsinki’s Pohjois-Haaga district is trying to beat the impact of the weather by inviting 100 customers to sleep in its air-conditioned store.
Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat quoted operations manager Marika Lindfors saying the idea for the sleepover came from customers who ‘told me half-jokingly that it'd be a great thing to be able to sleep at a cool supermarket’.
Linfors said: ‘We always try to respond to client feedback, so why not here, too?’
Apartments and homes in Finland are equipped to deal with the extreme cold and damp typical of the Nordic region, but few have air conditioning.
Temperatures in Finland reached 86F this week, with the August average in the country normally 66.2F.
What's the Iberian Plume? How warm from Spain or Sahara is roasting Europe with 118F highs
An Iberian plume is a weather pattern where warm air moves from the Iberian plateau or the Sahara into Europe and the UK.
It is caused by high pressure air formed in the Iberian Peninsula, which then pushes and the heat up.
Unlike a Spanish plume, this type of plume is much more stable and often doesn't cause thunderstorms.
The small Budakeszi game reserve outside the Hungarian capital Budapest said it was helping its animals cope with the heat with iced fruit.
Temperatures in south-west France could also rise to the high 80s. The mercury is being driven higher by a hot air mass moving north from Africa, bringing dust from the Sahara Desert.
The next few days could see the hottest temperatures recorded in continental Europe. Luke Miall, a Met Office meteorologist, said the record is 48C (118F) in Athens, Greece, in 1977.
Tourists were urged to avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day and remember that children are particularly susceptible.
In northern Europe, Sweden is still under threat from wildfires, which in recent weeks have extended into the Arctic Circle.
The Met Office said it was unlikely that the overall European highest temperature recorded would be beaten.
The number of known fatalities linked to the roasting temperatures rose after a middle-aged man was found lying in the street in Barcelona bleeding from the mouth.
Civil Protection workers covering the area tweeted: 'Medical response workers inform us a man has died in Barcelona from heatstroke.'
He was pronounced dead after being rushed to Barcelona's Clinic Hospital on Friday as temperatures in the Catalan capital neared 100F.
MailOnline
No comments:
Post a Comment