On Wednesday, Zamora set its own record after reaching 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.98 degrees Fahrenheit), according to climate statistician Max Herrera. Soria hit a record high of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.66 degrees Fahrenheit) on the same day. The central Portuguese city of Lousã set an all-time high of 46.3 degrees Celsius (115.34 degrees Fahrenheit) and Lisbon set a July record of 41.4 degrees Celsius (106.52 degrees Fahrenheit). But the worst is yet to come.
Spain and Portugal are preparing
Officials in Spain and Portugal are bracing for the hottest day of the heatwave so far. Temperatures are expected to reach around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of western and southern Spain, according to AEMET. In its afternoon update, AEMET warned that Spain is set to experience its hottest day of the heatwave on Thursday. Something similar is said about Portugal. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa told reporters that Thursday was expected to be the “most serious day” for Portugal in terms of extreme weather, warning that the country must “be more careful than ever to avoid new incidents.” Eight of the mainland’s 18 regions have been placed under a red weather warning by the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA). In light of the increased risk, the country’s “state of alert” is set to be extended until Sunday, Costa added. Portugal continues to be one of the countries most affected by the current heat wave across western Europe. There are currently 1,656 firefighters fighting the 10 active rural fires across Portugal, Portugal’s civil protection services announced on Thursday. More than 7,400 hectares of forest burned in the Leiria region of central Portugal, according to the Leiria municipality.
Thousands were evacuated due to the fires
France is in a similar situation. Since Tuesday, more than 6,500 people have been evacuated from their homes and campsites as wildfires rage in the country’s southwestern regions, regional police said Thursday. More than 9,000 hectares have been destroyed by two large forest fires in the Gironde department, according to a statement released by the department’s police. Around 1,000 firefighters from local and national brigades have been mobilized since Tuesday to stop the fires from spreading. Six water-bombing planes are also used. Grégory Allione, president of the national federation of firefighters, called on cities across the country to cancel traditional Bastille Day fireworks, speaking to French channel Franceinfo on Thursday. “What’s responsible is that they’re canceled, what’s responsible is taking into account that we’re in a dry, hot season,” Allione said, adding that the fires “are still developing, we expect to have difficulties today. given rising temperatures and swirling winds.” During a visit to the region on Wednesday, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told reporters that authorities “were on very high alert for the next few days, especially in the south of France.”
The UK is next
The heat peak is now occurring across the Iberian Peninsula and is expected to spread north and east over the next few days. A “rare” extreme heat warning issued by the UK Met Office for Sunday July 17 has been extended for Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s. The record high temperature in the UK is 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.7 degrees Fahrenheit), which could be surpassed, according to the Met Office. “Some models are producing maximum temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the UK next weekend and beyond,” said Rebekah Sherwin of the Met Office. “There is likely to be adverse health effects across the population, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to possible serious illness or risk to life,” the Met Office said. “Significantly more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents.” The UK could also face road closures due to melting surfaces, as well as delays to rail and air travel in the sweltering heat. CNN’s Brandon Miller contributed reporting.
