Severe Heat Waves Hit Southern Europe as Authorities Warn of Wildfire Risks
Experts link the rising frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe's southern region.
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CBS News
22 minutes ago
- CBS News
Riverside County Wolf Fire evacuations still in place; Lake and Juniper fire orders lifted
As temperatures rose and conditions dried over the weekend, residents of Southern California received a swift reminder of fire season as at least seven fires broke out across the Southland, according to Cal Fire. The fires were mostly split between Riverside and San Bernardino counties, burning thousands of acres and forcing evacuations. As of Tuesday afternoon, just the Wolf Fire in Riverside County still had mandatory evacuations in place. Three of the seven were still at 50% or less containment and burned more than 20 acres as of Tuesday. Wolf Fire Located near Banning, the Wolf Fire has burned about 2,414 acres since it started on Sunday afternoon. As of Tuesday, containment was at 30%. Cal Fire said crews were attacking the blaze aggressively from the air and ground. "Steep, rugged terrain, high temperatures and wind remain challenging factors for firefighters," Cal Fire said in a post to X. "Cooler temperatures [Tuesday night], with higher humidity will assist firefighters in constructing and strengthening containment lines." Evacuation orders remained in place in the immediate area. An evacuation map can be found here. According to Cal Fire, three firefighters have been injured while battling the blaze. Juniper Fire The Juniper Fire in Riverside Fire quickly ignited and ballooned up to nearly 700 acres on Monday afternoon. A rapid response by crews to the blaze, which was located in unincorporated Perris, managed to slow the spread. Evacuation orders were issued by 3 p.m. but were rescinded by 9 p.m., Cal Fire said. Containment was at 30% as of Tuesday, as crews continue to strengthen containment lines. Lake Fire San Bernardino County's Lake Fire burned just south of Hesperia in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains starting Saturday afternoon. Evacuation orders were issued quickly and were retracted by Sunday afternoon. As of Tuesday, the blaze covers 483 acres according to Cal Fire, although forward progress has been stopped. It's currently at 50% containment.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eiffel Tower closes early as heat wave grips Europe
The Eiffel Tower closed early on Tuesday as a sweltering heat wave gripped parts of Europe. The attraction closed at 4 p.m. local time — with last entry at 2:30 p.m. — as temperatures reached approximately 101 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a statement on the landmark's website. The tower will be closed all day on Wednesday, too, as a Red Warning for Extreme High Temperatures remains in effect through 12 a.m. Thursday. 'Due to the current heat wave, the Eiffel Tower is taking measures to ensure the comfort and safety of our visitors and staff,' the statement reads. Visitors whose tickets were affected by the closures will be automatically refunded, while those who haven't purchased tickets were advised to try again on or after Thursday when temperatures in the region are expected to cool down. Elsewhere in Europe, both Portugal and Spain broke heat records this week while London recorded the hottest opening day ever at Wimbledon (93 degrees Fahrenheit). In Italy, a construction worker in Bologna collapsed while repaving a parking lot and died. The conditions have also led to wildfires in Scotland's Cairngorms mountains. The UN's World Meteorological Organization said the southern Spanish town of El Granado hit about 115 degrees Fahrenheit last Saturday, the highest temperature ever recorded in Spain. 'Everybody is at risk,' said Clare Nullis, a spokesperson for the WMO. 'If you go out without water in the middle of the day, to do jogging, have a bike ride, you will probably have health problems or even die.' 'What is exceptional — and I would stress exceptional but not unprecedented — is the time of year,' Nullis added. 'We are July 1, and we are seeing episodes of extreme heat which normally we would see later on.' _____
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
The GOP's budget would make summers hotter and your AC pricier
The nation recently suffered through its first heat waves of the summer season, a prolonged stretch of extreme temperature and humidity highs in the Midwest and Northeast states. And this is only the beginning of the heat season. Each summer, millions of low-income Americans suffer in stifling homes, unable to afford the electricity needed to run an air conditioner. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat leads to a rising number of hospitalizations for high blood pressure, cardiovascular strain, dangerous dehydration — and worse. The danger is visible in the deaths of a woman on an Illinois roadside, an umpire at a youth softball tournament in South Carolina and a Texas postal worker walking his route. Others die alone, and their passing goes unrecognized as heat-related and uncounted in official records. Their suffering, year after year, remains invisible.
