Heat wave scorches Europe as UK reaches record-breaking temperatures

By Sana Noor Haq, Hafsa Khalil, Angela Dewan, Aditi Sangal, Mike Hayes and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 7:43 AM ET, Wed July 20, 2022
25 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
12:01 p.m. ET, July 19, 2022

Germany records hottest day of the year

From CNN's Nadine Schmidt

People cool down in the city center of Cologne, Germany, on July 19.
People cool down in the city center of Cologne, Germany, on July 19. (Sascha Steinbach/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Germany has recorded the hottest day in 2022, the country's weather service — the German Weather Service (DWD) — said Tuesday.

''New preliminary German temperature record for the year 2022,'' the DWD tweeted on Tuesday.

''The DWD - station in Duisburg-Baerl reported 39.3 °C at 4 pm (16:00 CET),'' the tweet went on to say.

''The previous record values (for the year 2022) were measured at 39.2 °C on 19 June in Cottbus and Dresden.''

Earlier Tuesday, the DWD told CNN that the country is bracing for temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

11:24 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

Europe's heat wave may not end until middle of next week, WMO says

From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London

People cool off with a shower during warm weather at Vidy beach on Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switerland, on Tuesday, June 19.
People cool off with a shower during warm weather at Vidy beach on Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switerland, on Tuesday, June 19. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone/AP)

Models suggest that the heatwave affecting Europe may not end until the middle of next week, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) official Robert Stefanski said Tuesday.

“The question everybody’s asking, looking ahead, 'when will this end?' Unfortunately, looking at all the models from our partners at the national and regional level, possibly not until middle of next week," he said at a news conference.

However, the heat is expected to peak on Tuesday for France, the UK and possibly Switzerland, Stefanski said.

“We expect this peak to happen right now in western Europe and move eastward, but still, temperatures will be much above normal,” he said.

Addressing the temperature records being broken across Europe, Stefanski said that “our concern is that is happening with shorter time periods between these records.”

Speaking at the news conference, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said that “these heat waves are becoming more frequent because of climate change.”

“These heat waves are having impacts on human health,” he continued. “The same people who have been vulnerable to the Covid pandemic, they are also vulnerable to heat waves. So, we expect to see increased deaths among the old and sick people.” 

12:40 p.m. ET, July 19, 2022

Western Europe is bucking under extreme heat and raging wildfires. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

A firefighter watches the flames in Louchats as wildfires continue to spread in the Gironde region of southwestern France, on July 17.
A firefighter watches the flames in Louchats as wildfires continue to spread in the Gironde region of southwestern France, on July 17. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

Scorching temperatures are sweeping western Europe, with the UK setting an all-time heat record, wildfires raging in France and Spain and a worsening drought in Portugal. At the same time, millions of Americans will see temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) this week.

If you're just reading in, here's what you need to know:

Record-breaking temperatures plague parts of Europe:

The UK has recorded a temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius (104.54 degrees Fahrenheit) in Lincolnshire, England, according to the Met Office said, provisionally shredding its previous record of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101 degrees Fahrenheit).

Germany is bracing for temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions on Tuesday and Wednesday. The extreme high temperatures will cause drought and dryness in some areas across Germany and the risk of wildfires remains very high, experts say.

Belgium extended a "code red" weather warning to a third region of the country. "There is a sufficient chance that at least 25% of the province will reach 40 degrees," said the head of forecasting at a Belgian meteorological institute.

A French town of Cazaux recorded 42.4 degrees Celsius (108.3 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday — the hottest it has seen since its weather station first opened more than 100 years ago in 1921 — according to French national meteorological service Météo France.

Sweden issued on Tuesday an orange warning for extremely high temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern part of the country for Wednesday and Thursday.

Hundreds have died in Portugal, where sweltering temperatures exacerbate a severe drought with the health ministry saying at least 659 mainly elderly people had died in the previous seven days, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile in the US, around a third of the population is under a heat alert on Tuesday and Wednesday as dangerous heat peaks today and tomorrow over much of the country. Nearly 20% of the US population, or about 60 million people, will likely see a temperature at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) this week. Among the hardest-hit areas are in the Southern Plains, including Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, where intense heat will stick around until at least Tuesday.

Fires are raging with the risk of spreading further:

"Very Extreme Danger" of fire – the highest level of risk on the Fire Weather Index (FWI) scale – is forecast in Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom on Tuesday, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

A third wildfire broke out in the Gironde region of western France, prompting the evacuation of 500 more people, according to the prefecture of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde. A total of 19,300 hectares (more than 47,000 acres) had already been burned by the two other fires in the Gironde. In total, 37,000 people have been evacuated.

In Spain, wildfires swept the central region of Castile and Léon, as well as the northern region of Galicia Sunday, Reuters reported.

At least two people have died and about 8,000 people have been evacuated so far as wildfires scorch areas across Spain, according to a government spokesperson. More than 70,000 hectares (more than 172,000 acres) have been destroyed in Spain because of fires this year, authorities say.

The London Fire Brigade has declared a "major incident" as firefighters battle several "significant" fires across the British capital on Tuesday during the record-breaking heat wave, it said in a tweet. It comes as around 100 firefighters and 15 fire teams are dealing with fires in an open green in Wennington, outside London, the Fire Brigade said on Twitter.

Severe weather is also disrupting travel:

On Monday, one of the UK's largest airports suspended flights after high temperatures damaged a runway.

The Royal Air Force also paused all flights to and from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, its biggest air base, after a report from Sky News suggested part of the runway had "melted."

Also in London, commuters have been told not to use the city's transportation services unless for "essential journeys" the Transport for London chief operating officer Andy Lord advised.

Network Rail, which owns and operates Britain's railway, has asked people not to travel on Tuesday due to the extreme heat.

Spain has also suspended train services in the country's northwest between Madrid and Galicia due to a fire close to the tracks, according to state-owned rail company RENFE.

The impact of climate change:

These temperatures are astonishing in the UK because they don’t reach this level often, and while they’re not as surprising in Spain, Portugal, and France, they are becoming more frequent and longer even in parts of Europe accustomed to dealing with heat.

Human-induced climate change is, in general, making the world hotter, extreme heat more likely and heatwaves more painfully long. Scientists in the business of attributing the role of the climate crisis to extreme weather now say it can be assumed that any heatwave has been made worse by climate change, primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels.

10:42 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

London Fire Brigade declares "major incident" in response to huge surge in fires across UK capital 

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London 

London Fire Brigade has declared a "major incident" as firefighters battle several "significant" fires across the British capital on Tuesday during a record-breaking heat wave, it said in a tweet.

"This is critical: @LondonFire is under immense pressure. Please be safe," London Mayor Sadiq Khan also said. 

It comes as around 100 firefighters and 15 fire teams are dealing with fires in an open green in Wennington, outside London, the Fire Brigade said on its Twitter account. 

Aerial footage broadcast by SkyNews shows the flame very close to a residential area in Wennington. 

Earlier on Tuesday, London’s Fire Commissioner had called for "an urgent barbecue ban" as firefighters continue to feel the effects of unprecedented heatwave temperatures for a second day. 

For the first time ever, 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) have provisionally been exceeded in the UK, the Met Office said on its verified Twitter account. 

 See the London Fire Brigade's tweet:

10:44 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

At least 21 different countries across Europe have heat warnings

From CNN's Brandon Miller

Heat warnings are in effect Tuesday in at least 21 countries, stretching from Ireland to Greece, according to Meteoalarm, an integration of European national weather services and part of the Network of European Meteorological Services.

Several countries, including the UK, Belgium and Poland, have posted their highest level of warnings, advising of dangerous, life-threatening heat.

Here's a full list of countries with heat-related warnings on Tuesday:

  1. Austria
  2. Belgium
  3. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  4. Croatia
  5. Cech Republic
  6. France
  7. Germany
  8. Greece
  9. Hungary
  10. Ireland
  11. Italy
  12. Luxembourg
  13. Netherlands
  14. Poland
  15. Portugal
  16. Serbia
  17. Slovakia
  18. Slovenia
  19. Spain
  20. Switzerland
  21. United Kingdom
10:10 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

Sweden issues warning for extremely high temperatures in southern parts of the country

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite and Chris Liakos

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued on Tuesday an orange warning for extremely high temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in northeast Götaland and southern Svealand – the southern part of the country – for Wednesday and Thursday.

The heat will culminate on Thursday, the Institute said in its website.

The Institute — an expert authority under the Ministry of the Environment — also issued yellow warnings for high temperatures of between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius (86 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit) in south central Sweden for the same days. More specifically in inner and eastern Götaland, inner Svealand, southeastern Norrland and on Gotland.

10:16 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

Nearly 60 million people in the US will see temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit this week

From CNN's Payton Major and Judson Jones

Nearly 20% of the US population, or about 60 million people, will likely see a temperature at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) this week.

Among the hardest-hit areas are in the Southern Plains, including Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, where intense heat will stick around until at least Tuesday.

July has been trending above average for Texas, and residents are cranking up their air conditioners to stay cool. The power grid has been strained toward peak usage for several weeks as electricity bills continue to skyrocket.

Much of Texas will continue to see record highs every day this week, which will continue to stress the power grid and could lead to rolling blackouts in the coming days.

Temperatures are reaching the triple-digit mark as far as South Dakota, which is 15 degrees above normal.

Rapid City set a new record high on Monday, topping out at 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius) and breaking a record of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) set back in 1934. The National Weather Service in Rapid City is telling residents to limit outdoor activities to the early morning or late evening hours.

Read more about this here.

9:18 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

At least 2 dead and about 8,000 people evacuated so far due to Spain's wildfires, official says

From CNN’s Claudia Rebaza, Alex Hardie and Zahid Mahmood

A plane drops water over fires in the Catalonia region countryside in Manresa, Spain, on July 18.
A plane drops water over fires in the Catalonia region countryside in Manresa, Spain, on July 18. (Davide Bonaldo/Sipa USA/AP)

At least two people have died and about 8,000 people have been evacuated so far as wildfires scorch areas across Spain, Isabel Rodríguez, Spain’s government spokesperson, said Tuesday.

“Two people have died, a firefighter and a farmer. There are some people seriously injured,” Rodríguez told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Madrid.

Spain currently has 24 active fires. The country has lost 20,000 hectares (49,000 acres) during this second wave and it has lost 70,000 hectares (172,000 acres) this year so far, a figure that is double that of the last decade’s average, the government’s spokesperson explained. 

Spain has faced five consecutive days with high temperatures, Rodríguez said, adding temperatures are set to decrease over the next couple of days.

“This is a tragic summer, we need to raise again how we react to them,” she said.

According to the Carlos III Health Institute, heat-related deaths through Sunday totaled at 679.

10:08 a.m. ET, July 19, 2022

Here's how to stay cool without air conditioning

From CNN's Kristen Rogers

A young man pours water over himself to combat the heat on July 12 in Madrid, Spain.
A young man pours water over himself to combat the heat on July 12 in Madrid, Spain. (Ricardo Rubio/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Whether you're without power, enduring extreme heat or trying to save money, there are ways to feel comfortable without artificial cooling.

Heat can foster fun summer activities, but the body shouldn't be too hot for too long, as too much heat can harm your brain and other organs, according to the US National Institutes of Health.

Sweating is the body's natural cooling system, but when that's not enough, there's increased risk for developing the heat-related illness hyperthermia — signs of which include heat cramps, heat edema and heat stroke.

Staying cool can be done by using some basic supplies and knowing how to manipulate your home to control its temperatures. Here are 14 methods for doing so.

Stay hydrated

When you're hot and flushed, hydrating yourself is the first and foremost step to cooling down, said Wendell Porter, a senior lecturer emeritus in agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida.

The temperature of the water doesn't matter since your body will heat it, he added. If your body is suffering from the heat and needs to cool itself, it can't do that without enough moisture, since the body cools itself by sweating.

Take a cold shower or bath

Taking a cold shower or bath helps cool your body by lowering your core temperature, Porter said.

For an extra cool blast, try peppermint soap. The menthol in peppermint oil activates brain receptors that tell your body something you're eating or feeling is cold.

Use cold washrags on your neck or wrists

Place a cold washrag or ice bags (packs) on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you'll cool down more quickly.

Use box fans

Place box fans facing out of the windows of rooms you're spending time in to blow out hot air and replace it with cold air inside.

Close your curtains or blinds

If you have windows that face the sun's direction in the morning through afternoon, close the curtains or blinds over them to "keep the sun from coming directly into the house and heating up (the) inside," Porter said.

You could also install blackout curtains to insulate the room and reduce temperature increases that would happen during the day.

Sleep in breathable linens

Cotton is one of the most breathable materials, so cotton sheets or blankets could help keep you cool through the night. The lower the thread count of the cotton, the more breathable it is, Porter said.

Sleep in the basement

If you can't sleep through the night because you're too hot, try sleeping somewhere besides your bedroom, if that's an option. Heat rises, so if you have a lower or basement level in your home, set up a temporary sleeping area there to experience cooler temperatures at night.

Don't refrigerate or freeze blankets or clothing

Common advice for staying cool without air conditioning includes refrigerating or freezing wet socks, blankets or clothing then ringing them out to wear while you sleep. But this isn't a good idea, Porter said.

Because of "the amount of energy they can absorb from your body that night, they will be warm in just a matter of minutes," he said. "And then you'd have damp stuff that would mold your mattress. So you definitely don't want to do that."

Close the doors of unused rooms

If no one's using a room that doesn't have vents or registers, close the door to that area to keep the cool air confined to only occupied areas of the house.

Use the exhaust fan in your kitchen and/or bathroom

Flip the switch for the exhaust fan in your kitchen to pull hot air that rises after you cook or in your bathroom to draw out steam after you shower.

Install energy-efficient light bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs generate a higher temperature than LED light bulbs do. To make the switch, watch for sales on energy-efficient bulbs, then slowly replace the bulbs in your house, Porter said.

Switching light bulbs can save money but won't reduce a lot of heat in the home, Hall said. However, if you focus on switching the bulbs in areas you're sitting near, that would make a more noticeable difference, Porter said.

Cook in the morning, with a slow cooker or outside

Oven heat can spread throughout your house. Keep the heat centralized in one area, such as a slow cooker. Or, cook outdoors on a grill to keep the heat outside.

Enjoy frozen treats

Eating an ice pop or ice cream to cool down may help for a moment. But don't go overboard on the sugar if you're overheated or at risk of being overheated, Porter said.

"Sugar would run your metabolism up and you'd start feeling internally hot," he said. "So the cool treat might be good, but the extra sugar might not."

Research what your state offers

If you've tried everything and still can't beat the heat at home, you could look online for any local programs that are offering ductless air conditioners.

Depending on your state, some cooling centers — air-conditioned public facilities where people might go for relief during extremely hot weather — may be open and taking precautions to ensure they're as safe as possible. You could start by checking with your local utility offices, as they would know who is offering certain programs, Porter recommended.

CNN's Madeline Holcombe and Holly Yan contributed reporting to this po#