France storms leave two dead and many injured as Paris floods
A 12-year-old child was killed by a falling tree in south-west France, and a man died in the north-west when his quad bike hit a toppled tree.
The storms also caused power outages for 110,000 homes and led to a leak in the French parliament's roof during a speech by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.
In the UK, thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday, with heavy showers expected in some areas, particularly the south-east.
Unsettled weather is predicted to continue into Friday for the UK, with warm, humid air persisting in the south and east.
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Trimmed tree fightback 'poses danger to drivers' says councillor
Trees heavily pruned by council workers are now set to be trimmed again after they sprouted leaves along their trunks, which a councillor says pose a hazard to pedestrians and trees in Bramcote Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, were originally 'pollarded' - a process where several large branches are trimmed trees reacted to being pollarded by activating dormant growth points beneath their bark called epicormic buds, which have in turn grown dense leaves down to ground level. Councillor Steve Carr said the new growth restricts the view of both motorists and pedestrians. He has reported the matter to the council, which is now set to return to trim away the new growth. Mr Carr, an independent district and county councillor, said: "I saw these trees I thought 'how on earth are people going to get past'? "There is a school nearby so you have parents and children having to walk in the road, which isn't ideal."And the view for drivers, both of people and parked cars, is also obscured."Mr Carr said he contacted the county council and was told they planned to trim the branches in August or September."I said it shouldn't take that long, people are having to deal with this now," he said."It is a little ironic that the county council is sending out messages to people about cutting their hedges and trees and giving them two weeks to take action, but when it comes to them, they say they can't do anything for more than six weeks!"A highways manager from Nottinghamshire County Council said: "We're aware of epicormic growth on trees along Bramcote Road in Beeston and it is due to be removed as part of our planned maintenance programme which will start soon."Bramcote Road is one of over 450 streets across the county included in our epicormic growth removal programme."Where residents notice problems with trees or other issues on the highway, we ask that they continue to report them to us either through our website or the MyNOTTS App."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Companies' desperate plea to South East residents to save water
A renewed urgent plea has been issued to residents to reduce water usage, with South East Water reporting nearly 700 million litres of water was used in a single day. The company has asked customers to restrict water usage for "essential purposes only" which are drinking, washing and cooking.A spokesperson for the company says there were 16 days in a row where demand was higher than average for company said it supplied nearly one billion litres more water in the last two weeks compared to June 2022 - with Monday being the highest usage of 680 million litres in June." South East Water says it is "treating and pumping as much as it possibly can to replenish treated water storage tanks".It also advises residents to: Water plants with grey water as soil and compost is a natural filter for soap sudsUse water from dehumidifiers and tumble dryers too Collect clean, cold water while waiting for it to heat up which can be used to water the garden. 'We need your help' Southern Water said its daily demand in June this year was higher than normal - compared to its usual average of 592 million litres of water used a director for Southern Water, Tim McMahon, said the UK's "driest spring" for more than 100 years and the hot summer so far meant there was "more pressure" on water resources."We really need our customers to help us keep taps flowing during this hot weather, by using water wisely," he said."Small changes can make a real difference, like taking shorter showers, turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, and letting lawns go brown."
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Europe heatwave latest: Eiffel Tower summit closed as continent faces record-breaking temperatures
France has closed the Eiffel Tower summit and shuttered almost 2,000 schools as a brutal heatwave breaks temperature records across Europe. Spain and Portugal logged their highest-ever June temperatures as authorities took urgent measures across Mediterranean nations. Spain saw its hottest June since 1914, with Barcelona hitting 37.9C and Madrid forecast to reach 39°C while Portugal's Mora town peaked at 46.6C. Italy banned outdoor work in some parts as red alerts were issued in 17 major cities. In Florence, power outages hit the city centre, and a worker near Bologna died in a suspected heat-related incident. Turkey battled wildfires for a third day, forcing the evacuation of about 50,000 people. The current high-pressure system set in late last week, bringing temperatures up to 10C higher than normal for this time in summer, with the system moving east across Europe from the Iberian peninsula. Marine heatwave pushes up Mediterranean Sea temperature Mediterranean Sea temperatures surged in June in a marine heatwave, with a Greek scientist warning some species are under threat in what has likely been a record period. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service said Copernicus Marine Service data showed sea surface temperatures on 22 June were more than 5Cs above the seasonal average. The most intense warming in what it called a "marine heatwave" was observed in the western Mediterranean basin, including the Balearic Sea, off Spain, and the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the west coast of Italy, it said. "We have seen temperatures we were expecting in the middle of August being recorded in June and ... this is why it is considered a record year for temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea," Christos Spyrou, associate researcher at the Academy of Athens research centre for atmospheric physics, said. He said that the average sea temperatures in June were 3-6 degrees higher than the average between 1982-2023, which was used as a reference period. "We expected these sea temperatures in August," Spyrou said, adding specific temperatures were not yet available. "Some species will not be able to reproduce or survive in these conditions, especially in increasing temperatures.' Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, heating up at twice the global average, according to Copernicus, making extreme heatwaves occur earlier in the year, and persist into later months. Several Italian regions banned outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day on Tuesday, France shut scores of schools and Spain confirmed last month as its hottest June on record as a severe heatwave gripped Europe, triggering widespread health alerts. A 69-year-old Greek resident who gave his name as Christos said he had noticed the warming waters off Athens. 'I have been coming here for 11 years, I believe the sea is a little warmer than other years. Every year it gets warmer, both in winter and in summer," he said Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 05:22 In pictures: Sweltering heatwave scorches Europe Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 04:38 Schools and Eiffel Tower summit shut in France as red alert extended France is on high alert as temperatures soar to 40–41C, with the red alert extended till today. National weather agency Meteo-France placed several departments under the highest red alert. The Eiffel Tower's summit remains closed until Thursday for 'everyone's comfort and safety'. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were told to postpone their visits. The number of schools shut across the country has surged to nearly 1,900, up from just 200 on Monday, in a dramatic response to the intensifying heatwave. A Paris-Milan rail service was disrupted because of a mudslide on the French side of the Alps, with full service not expected to be fully restored until mid-July, French rail operator SNCF said. Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 04:20 Barcelona logs hottest June in over a century Barcelona logged its hottest June since 1914, with an average temperature of 26C. Monday alone saw a searing 37.9C, breaking all previous records for the month. Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean. Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 03:59 What is a heat dome? Weather system explained Large swathes of the UK and Europe are sweltering through a heatwave, with England's southeast set to hit temperatures of 35C and parts of Europe including Paris, Rome and Athens to near 40C. The extended period of above-average temperatures and tropical nights with minimum temperatures staying above 20C could be exacerbated by a heat dome. Here, Rachel Clun looks at how the weather event is sending temperatures soaring across Europe. What is a heat dome? Weather system explained as Europe faces sweltering temperatures Temperatures are expected to drop by the end of the week across much of Europe Bryony Gooch2 July 2025 03:00 Full list of countries affected by heatwave Dozens of heat warnings are in place across France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and well as the Balkans, according to weather aggregator MeteoAlarm. 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event – it has become the new normal,' UN secretary general Antonio Guterres warned. 'The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous – no country is immune.' Here, The Independent has put together a full list of European countries currently in the grip of a heatwave and the current advice being given to locals and tourists. Full list of European countries under heatwave alerts as mercury soars to 46C Dozens of heat warnings are in place across tourist hotspots including France, Spain and Italy Daniel Keane2 July 2025 02:00 Europe is world's fastest warming continent Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, heating up at twice the global average, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, with extreme heatwaves starting earlier in the year and persisting for longer. "What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year," said World Meteorological Organisation spokesperson Clare Nullis, adding that extreme heat episodes were seen now "which normally we would see later on in the summer." Higher temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea tend to reinforce extreme temperatures over land areas, she said. Bryony Gooch2 July 2025 01:00 'Heatwaves are silent killers' - the dangers of extreme heat Extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually around the world, according to insurance company Swiss Re, which notes this exceeds the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, research fellow at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, said: "Heatwaves are silent killers. "Unlike floods or storms, their impact can be invisible: people who die during extreme heat usually have pre-existing health conditions, and heat is rarely recorded as a contributing cause of death." Bryony Gooch2 July 2025 00:00 'Climate refuge' set up in southern Malaga by Red Cross The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned "climate refuge" for residents in southern Malaga, said IFRC spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa. Spanish Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to support the most vulnerable population groups – the very old and the very young, pregnant women, people working outdoors – and the National Society has launched a public-health information drive to provide advice on how to store medication safely and protect pets. The Red Cross set up a 'climate refuge', air-conditioned down to the low twenties, to help residents 'cope with the heat in comfort and with company, avoiding the isolation and loneliness' that extreme heat can impose, as people are forced to stay indoors. Bryony Gooch1 July 2025 23:00 Barcelona marks hottest June in over a century Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started more than a century ago, Spain's national weather service said as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heatwave of the summer. The Fabra Observatory, located on a hill overlooking the city, reported an average temperature of 26C, breaking records since 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6C in 2003. The same weather station said a single-day high of 37.9C for June was recorded on Monday.
