High temperatures
38 degrees in Mallorca and it’s getting even hotter – maps show where the heat in Europe is extreme
Maps linked below show regions in Europe with the most extreme heat
Sweltering heat spreads across parts of Europe. Especially around the Mediterranean, the thermometer shows extreme values. But also in Germany it was very warm again and again. Two interactive maps show the temperatures.
Table of contents
This summer is very hot – both in Europe and partly here in Germany. The red colors of the weather maps show this at first glance: In Germany it will be warmer again this Wednesday in the south than in the north, where there is occasionally a little cooling rain. But the regions on the North and Baltic Seas have also had very warm periods this year.
In view of the heat in these summer months, a health policy debate has also flared up: do we in Germany need a siesta like we know it from southern European countries? So get up early and work when it’s cooler – and then take a long break in the hot midday hours?
Does a siesta help us in Germany through hot days?
A corresponding demand came from the Association of Medical Officers. In view of the current heat, workers in Germany should “orient themselves to the working methods of southern countries,” said Johannes Nießen to the newspapers of the editorial network Germany (RND) for this Tuesday’s edition. Nießen is the chairman of the Federal Association of Physicians in the Public Health Service (BVÖGD).
The Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) industrial union signaled general approval, which confirmed that people who work outdoors must be protected above all. However, starting very early in the morning on construction sites, for example, is hardly possible because noise protection rules have to be observed. If people can’t work because of the heat, the state should pay compensation, according to the union.
Map I: See live where the temperatures are currently the highest
Would you like to know where in Europe the temperatures are currently the highest? The live map below shows it. For a forecast for the coming days, click on the “Play” button at the bottom left. You can also switch the view at the top right of the menu, for example to rain and thunderstorms.
The service is provided by Windy.com. The makers use the model from the “European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts” for their representations and forecasts.
Heat poses health risks for people – including dehydration and heat stroke. Doctors therefore advise staying in cool rooms if possible, drinking a lot and avoiding the midday sun. Heat can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, the sick and children.
Misleading reports of record heat of 48 degrees
However, the understanding of “heat” is probably very different in Europe. It is currently much warmer in the south of the continent than in Germany. The European space agency Esa had even predicted temperatures of up to 48 degrees for parts of the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia for Tuesday, as reported by the AFP news agency on the same day and by many media, including the star at this point, was taken up.
However, there was much criticism of this figure throughout the day as the forecast was based on ground temperature, which was not reported in all reports. However, the official air temperature is measured at a height of two meters, as explained by the “Weather Online” portal, for example. And those values are currently a few degrees lower because the ground heats up more than the air.
The Italian islands were still a few degrees away from temperatures of around 48 degrees. However, it’s always hot. Italy’s weather service warned of one of the worst heat waves on record this week. This Wednesday, the highest heat alert level is to be declared in 23 major cities before temperatures could drop somewhat towards the end of the week.
Map II: The maximum temperatures for today
The overview below shows the expected maximum temperatures for today. It is provided by the Wetter.de portal, which, like stern, belongs to RTL Germany. Clicking on the graphic takes you to the provider and you can request further details.
In view of the sometimes long-lasting drought in Europe, forest fires keep breaking out, most recently, for example, on the Canary Island of La Palma, on the Greek Island of Rhodes and near the capital Athens. According to media reports, dozens of villages in Greece recently had to be evacuated.
The country has been battling its first heat wave of the year since the end of last week. From Thursday, the weather service expects a second wave with temperatures of up to 44 degrees. The associated drought also increases the risk of forest fires. A spokesman for the fire brigade spoke of a “very high risk”, especially in the region around Athens, in Attica, on the island of Crete and on the Peloponnese peninsula.
Spain declares the highest heat alert level – extreme heat also on Mallorca
It’s holiday time now – many people from Germany travel south and experience the extreme temperatures there firsthand. The popular island of Mallorca, for example, was one of the hottest regions in Spain on Tuesday with peak values of around 45 degrees, according to the dpa. The Ballermann was therefore 38 degrees. The extreme heat is a big topic in the Spanish media. Cooling off is not really in sight in the next few days either. Saturday could be the mildest day of the week with 35 degrees before the thermometer is expected to rise again to up to 44 degrees early next week.
The Balearic archipelago, of which Mallorca is the largest, is one of the regions in Spain where the highest heat alert level was declared on Tuesday. It was extremely warm in Sardinia with 42 degrees. Temperatures of up to 50 degrees have even been measured in North Africa.
The ubiquitous heat in Europe is likely to be the dominant theme of this summer for the foreseeable future. The two maps linked above in this article show how hot it is in the individual regions.
Sources: “Wetter.de“, Union IG Bau“Weather Online” / with material from AFP and dpa