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Heatwaves and drought fuel wildfire risk across parts of Europe and the UK
Britain logged its 34th day above 30C (86F) this year as rivers and reservoirs run low and drought deepens.
Europe is facing an unprecedented stretch of extreme heat, with damaging heatwaves and wildfires reported across multiple countries, according to Guardian Business. The outlet links the ongoing conditions to catastrophic consequences, including deadly blazes, evacuations, and disruptions to livelihoods.
The report says wildfires have torn through France, Greece, and Spain, killing firefighters, forcing people from their homes, and leaving communities with fewer resources to recover. It also describes the pressure on emergency services in the UK, where parks have browned and brittled and hundreds of grass fires have increased strain on firefighters.
In Britain, Tuesday marked 34 days with temperatures above 30C (86F) so far this year. The article adds that in July, the weather station at Kew Gardens recorded its first month without rain since operations began in 1871, while rivers run dry and reservoirs remain low.
The Guardian Business story also cites drought impacts on the food supply, saying farmers are warning of food shortages as conditions worsen. It estimates thousands of deaths have already been linked to extreme heat in May and June, and notes London has experienced a third drought in five years, with a super strength El Niño forming that could further intensify temperatures.