Record-breaking June heatwave affecting most of Europe
A severe heatwave for the time of year is currently affecting western, central and northeastern Europe, with the most affected countries Spain, France, northern Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
On June 27, new June temperature records were set in Germany – 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in Coschen, breaking the previous national record for the month of June set in 1947 by 1/10 of a degree (C).
The Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute said the temperature reached 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) in Doksany, setting a new national high for the month. New daily records were set at some 80% of local measuring stations, AP reports.
The temperatures could top 40 °C (104 °F) in parts of continental Europe in the coming days.
As of June 27, three fatalities in Montpellier coastal area, southern France. The French authorities have announced school closures, with exams postponed for 800000 students and traffic restrictions.
Over the next 24 hours, the heatwave will continue over central and western Europe, particularly over most of Spain, central-southern France and central-northern Italy.
The map below shows the temperature of the land surface, not air temperature which is normally used in forecasts, on June 26. The white areas in the image are where cloud obscured readings of land temperature and the light blue patches are snow-covered areas.
Land surface temperatures on June 26, 2019. Credit: ESA, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2019), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Featured image credit: ESA
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Is the temperature measuring equipment the same in 2019 as it was in 1947? The answer, in all likelihood, is “No”. Today’s equipment is much more precise, within very short periods of time, unlike earlier forms dependent upon mercury. So, records?
Doubtful. Just very hot, regardless. It’s called weather and it’s perfectly natural—however unpleasant.
Here, in Mount Gambier, South Australia, in January 2019 experienced a day of 44 degrees. Ugh. Yet checking the records showed the same event happening in 1908. And not only that, it was just one of five consecutive days above 40 degrees. Conclusion, there really is little that is new over time, even if it seems new to a particular generation.