A heat dome over Europe is causing travel chaos, health alerts and stress on wildlife
An intense heatwave tightened its grip on large parts of Europe on Sunday, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, sparking health warnings, transport disruptions and growing concerns about its impact on wildlife and public safety.The heatwave coincided with the summer solstice on June 21, and raised fears of an early and prolonged period of extreme weather conditions across the continent.Authorities in Italy issued red alerts for eight cities, including Bologna, Florence, Milan and Turin, after several days of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.In Rome, pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square under umbrellas as Pope Leo XIV led the traditional Sunday prayer.Meteorologists attributed the high temperatures to a mass of hot air moving north from the Sahara, driven by a strong high-pressure system known as the “African anticyclone.”The system has created a “heat dome,” trapping hot air over western and central Europe and causing temperatures to steadily rise.
Travel and infrastructure affected by rising temperatures
Extreme temperatures began to affect transportation networks, especially in France.Speaking at Gare Montparnasse station in Paris, SNCF president Jean Castex said the railway network was “severely affected” by temperatures that could damage overhead power lines and expanding railway lines.
According to Reuters, 71 intercity trains were canceled as of Monday on major routes, while thousands of railway workers were deployed to monitor infrastructure and make emergency repairs.France is among the countries most affected by the heat wave. About a third of the country was under red alert on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. Authorities also took cooling measures at tourist sites, while 845 schools were ordered to close on Monday due to the heat.The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET issued red and orange warnings in several regions, warning that temperatures could exceed 39 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius in most parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Mallorca.The heat wave is expected to continue until at least mid-week.
Wildlife is under pressure as the heat intensifies
Prolonged heat also affects wildlife.A rescue center near the Belgian city of Namur said it had received about 150 animals suffering from heat stress in recent days, with young birds particularly at risk.“Baby birds would rather jump than let themselves die and literally get cooked in their nests,” Romain De Jaegère, founder of Craves, told Reuters.In Germany, temperatures have already risen to 38 degrees Celsius.While temperature warnings remain in place, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain have also disrupted outdoor events in Berlin, including the Berlin Open tennis tournament and music festival.
Climate concerns are increasing
Experts have warned that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.According to the AP news agency, more than 200,000 people have died across Europe from heat-related causes over the past four years, and many of these deaths are considered preventable.The World Health Organization’s European office warned that temperatures are expected to rise above average again this summer.European governments have intensified emergency preparedness measures, including wildfire monitoring, public health guidelines and infrastructure protection, as forecasters expect the heatwave could continue for several more days.
