Large parts of western Europe are once again experiencing intense heat on Thursday, as Britain and France are facing their fifth heat waves of an extraordinary summer that could potentially set new records. Weather experts in the U.K. are forecasting temperatures to soar up to 38 degrees Celsius in central and southeast England, possibly marking the hottest day of the year. The highest temperature recorded so far this year was 38 degrees Celsius on June 26 in eastern England.
The U.K.’s Met Office has indicated that if average conditions continue through August, this year could surpass the record for the hottest year set last year. Meanwhile, France is bracing for even higher temperatures, with central and southern areas expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius and Paris expecting 38 degrees Celsius.
In Britain, reports emerged on Thursday of challenges faced by workers in hospitals due to the intense heat, with nurses reportedly collapsing from heat exhaustion, according to the Royal College of Nursing. Nicola Ranger, the college’s chief executive and general secretary, expressed concerns about the impact on healthcare workers.
Both Britain and France appear ill-prepared to handle such extreme heat, with air conditioning being scarce outside of commercial establishments. Widespread drought conditions in Europe have led to crop failures, depleted rivers, and increased pressure on water resources for various purposes.
In response to the water scarcity, Britain’s Southern Water has applied for a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water use, including car washing and filling non-domestic pools, due to the exceptional lack of rainfall threatening supplies in certain regions. The Environment Secretary will make a decision on this application, which would be the first such ban since 2006.
With dry conditions persisting and no significant rainfall in sight, authorities in both countries are on high alert for wildfires. In Britain, firefighters are actively combating a wildfire in the New Forest, while England and Wales have already recorded 1,017 wildfires this year, matching last year’s record.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham of the U.K. is contemplating a ban on disposable barbecues to mitigate the risk of wildfires amid the ongoing heatwave. He emphasized the need for public awareness and caution during this period of extreme heat.
French firefighters are also facing challenges, with demands for additional resources to handle the escalating weather emergencies. Recent wildfires in France, including a significant blaze near Bordeaux last month, have heightened concerns about the country’s capacity to respond to such events.