Heatwave to persist in Spain, France and the worst is yet to come
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The current heatwave has kept a firm hold across France and Spain while Wednesday was one for the record books across Europe with daily, June and all-time temperature records broken.
This included the highest temperature ever recorded during the month of June in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Temperatures soared to 38.2 C at Radzyń, Poland, on Wednesday, while Coschen station (Berlin-Brandenburg) reached 38.6 C in Germany. The all-time highest temperature ever recorded in Germany remains 40.3 C, set in Kitzingen on Aug. 7, 2015.
The Polish weather institute IMGW said the country’s highest ever June temperature was recorded on Wednesday in the southwest: 38.2C.
The temperature on a thermometer at Zrinjevac Park in downtown Zagreb, Croatia, 27 June 2019. Reports state that in the last few days Croatia and Zagreb recorded high temperatures between 33-38 degrees Celsius or by the sea more than 38 celsius. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute also recorded the country’s highest June temperature: 38.9C in the northern town of Doksany.
In Belgium, vastly different temperatures were expected with 19C on the north coast and 33C in the south, according to broadcaster RTBF.
The stifling heat prompted traffic restrictions in France and sparked forest fires in Spain.
A Polar bear tastes a fruit and fish filled ice block to beat the warm weather at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, 27 June 2019. Staff gave ice blocks to some of their animals, because of the temperature are around 30 degrees Celsius. The ice blocks was stuffed with apples, carrots and fish. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK
The worst is expected on Friday when 33 of the 50 Spanish provinces face extreme temperatures, which could reach 44C in Girona.
The Italian health ministry has issued a heat alert for 16 towns and cities for Friday.
