We all know, over recent months, the weather across the UK has been glorious – for a change – and in Europe, it’s been even hotter – too hot in parts.
In Spain especially, they’ve been in the midst of an unbearable heatwave, which has tragically claimed the lives of three people.
However, according to reports, their hottest day is set for today, (August 4), and warnings are in place for locals, as well as holiday makers.
In central Spain, dangerous highs of 118 degrees Fahrenheit are expected as the hot weather continues to consume the continent.
41 provinces, out of Spain’s 50, have been issued with health warnings and a further eight areas in central, southern, and eastern Portugal are experiencing record-breaking temperatures too.
This influx of unbearable heat is said to be a result of the ‘Iberian Plume’.
According to the Met Office, they describe a ‘Spanish plume’ as the following:
A ‘Spanish plume’ is a weather setup which brings an increased risk of thunderstorms within an air mass which travels north from Iberia.
The storms can form over the UK, or can move towards it having developed over Spain, western France or Biscay.
This pattern can lead to extremely high temperatures as well as intense rainfall during the summer months, and thunderstorms.
The intense thunderstorms are said to form from thermal lows – also known as heat lows – and can be a semi-permanent feature around some parts of Europe, particularly in the summer season.
They’re normally created around Spain, Portugal and France during the summer, because of the intense heat.
The temperature in the south of 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, reports the Daily Mail, with Luke Miall, a Met Office meteorologist, saying the record is 48C (118F) which was in Athens, Greece, back in 1977.
Tourists and locals are being urged to avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day and are being reminded children are particularly at risk.
In the UK, as the hot weather continues, according to the Office for National Statistics, almost 700 more deaths than average hit England and Wales during the 15-day peak of temperatures in June and July.
The people most at risk were said to be the frail and the elderly, as well as those with kidney and heart problems.
Experts told The Guardian authorities should expect an increase in deaths during heatwaves after a cross-party committee of MP’s branded the UK ‘woefully underprepared’ for scorching conditions on July 27.
Politicians accused the government of ignoring warnings form its climate change adviser and said without heeding the advice, heat-related fatalities could triple to 7,000 by the 2040s.
NHS Providers deputy chief executive, Saffron Cordery, said:
Some trusts have reported record numbers of people coming in to A&E, with increased emergency admissions, often for respiratory problems and conditions made worse by dehydration.
We have heard concerns about large numbers of people from care homes requiring treatment.
If you are out in warm weather, always remember to use sun protection and to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid going out in extremely high temperatures and check in on those who may be particularly at risk, like the elderly and frail.
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