In a statement, WMO note that the UK Met Office has issued a “Red Warning” for the first time for extreme temperatures and forecast temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Monday and Tuesday.
The current record high temperature in the UK is 38.7 degrees Celsius, reached just three years ago.
‘Widespread impact on people and infrastructure’
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Nights are also likely to be particularly warm, particularly in urban areas. “This has the potential to lead to widespread effects on people and infrastructure. So it’s important for everyone to plan for the heat and consider changing their habits. This level of heat can have adverse health effects.”
Lorenzo Labrador, Scientific Officer at WMO’s Global Atmospheric Monitoring Program, explains that heat waves also act as a lid, trapping pollutants in the atmosphere, including particulate matter, leading to to air quality deterioration and adverse health effects, especially for vulnerable populations.
He continued: “Similarly, abundant sunshine, high concentrations of certain pollutants in the atmosphere, and a stable atmosphere favor bursts of ozone formation near the surface, which affect detrimental to humans and plants.
Dr Nikos Christidis, climate attribution scientist at the Met Office, added that a recent study has found that the likelihood of extremely hot days in the UK is increasing and will continue to do so. throughout this century.
Dr Christidis said: “Climate change is already affecting the likelihood of extreme heat events in the UK. “The likelihood of exceeding 40 degrees Celsius anywhere in the UK in a given year is also increasing rapidly, and even with current commitments to cut emissions, such extremes could play out.” every 15 years in the climate of 2100”.
Extreme heat events occur during natural climate variability due to changes in global weather patterns. However, WMO indicates that the increase in frequency, duration and intensity of these events in recent decades is clearly related to planetary warming and may be due to human activity. People.
The devastation of forest fires in Southern Europe
News of a particularly high level expected in the Nordic country broke out amid massive wildfires across the southwest of the continent, which have killed hundreds and displaced thousands. from their home.
In Portugal, temperatures have reached highs of around 46°C and red warnings are in effect for much of the country, as hot conditions increase the risk of wildfires.
More than 13,000 hectares of land have burned in the Gironde region of France, and 15 of the 96 French agencies are listed on the Red alert list and 51 on the orange alert, with residents in these areas being warned. sense. The heat wave in western France is expected to peak on Monday, with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
‘Half of humanity in danger zone’: Head of UN
In a video message sent to a high-profile climate event in Germany on Monday, UN chief António Guterres warned that “half of humanity is in danger”, facing floods, droughts, Extreme storms and wildfires.
Addressing ministers from 40 countries in the city of Petersberg, Mr. Guterres said that Paris Agreement 2015 The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, was life-supported after COP26 last November, and “its pulse has weakened further”.
“Countries continue to play the blame game instead of taking responsibility for our collective future,” the secretary-general declared, calling on nations to rebuild trust and pull together. adjacent.
