Latest news with #AgnerPannier-Runacher
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Southern Europe roasts as temperatures soar
A punishing heatwave gripped southern Europe on Monday, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar again. France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have been sweltering for several days as the mercury climbed to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in some places. "This is unprecedented," Agner Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said as a record 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest "orange' heat alert. Only a small sliver of the country in the northwest was not sweltering, according to the Meteo France weather service, which said the heatwave was due to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in the countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out Sunday in France and Turkey, fed by the heat and strong winds. Already last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. - 'Not normal' - Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, had reached up to 44C Sunday. In Madrid, where temperatures approached 40C, 32-year-old photographer Diego Radames told AFPTV: "I feel that the heat we're experiencing is not normal for this time of year. "As the years go by, I have the feeling that Madrid is getting hotter and hotter, especially in the city centre," he added. In Italy, 21 cities across the length of the country were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Rome and Catania. "We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted," said British tourist Anna Becker, who had travelled to Rome from a "muggy, miserable" Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported a 10-percent increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. "It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue," he told AFP. - 'More frequent, more intense' - Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, were under a red warning until Monday night, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was also on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires -- as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday. Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called "urban heat island" effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. "The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years," said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). "A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now," she told AFP. - Invasive species - The heat is also attracting invasive species, which are thriving in the more tropical climes. ISPRA launched a campaign this week urging fishermen and tourists alike to report sightings of four "potentially dangerous" venomous species. The lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot are beginning to appear in waters off southern Italy as the Mediterranean warms, it said. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely hitting biodiversity. burs/yad/hmn
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Climate
- RTÉ News
'Unprecedented' alerts in France amid European heatwave
A punishing heatwave has gripped southern Europe, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar again. France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have been sweltering for several days as the mercury climbed to 44C in some places. Temperatures in southern Spain soared to 46C on Saturday, a new record for June, the national weather agency said this morning. The mercury climbed to its new high in Huelva, near the border with Portugal, edging out the previous record, 45.2C that was set in 1965 in Seville, it said. France's national weather agency has placed Paris and 15 other departments on its highest weather alert level. Paris and the 15 other departments would move up to the red alert level, a warning last issued in August 2023, due to the severity of the temperatures, Meteo France said. It said 68 other departments would remain on orange, the second highest alert level. "This is unprecedented," Agner Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said. Only a small sliver of the country in the northwest was not sweltering, according to the Meteo France weather service, which said the heatwave was due to peak tomorrow and Wednesday. The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in the countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out yesterday in France and Turkey, fed by the heat and strong winds. Already last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, had reached up to 44C yesterday. In Madrid, where temperatures approached 40C, 32-year-old photographer Diego Radames told AFPTV: "I feel that the heat we're experiencing is not normal for this time of year. "As the years go by, I have the feeling that Madrid is getting hotter and hotter, especially in the city centre," he added. In Italy, 21 cities across the length of the country were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Rome and Catania. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported a 10% increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. "It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue," he said. Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, were under a red warning until tonight, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was also on high alert for extreme heat and forest fires - as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes on Saturday. Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called "urban heat island" effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. "The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years," said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). "A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now," she said. The heat is also attracting invasive species, which are thriving in the more tropical climes. ISPRA launched a campaign this week urging fishermen and tourists alike to report sightings of four "potentially dangerous" venomous species. The lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot are beginning to appear in waters off southern Italy as the Mediterranean warms, it said. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely hitting biodiversity. Meteorologist with the Irish Weather Channel Cathal Nolan attributed the soaring temperatures across Europe to a "heat dome" that is settling across the continent. "The reason we're calling it a heat dome is where we have these large areas of high pressure, these anticyclones essentially act a like a lid on a pot, whereby the air is virtually trapped underneath. It sits for a couple of days or an extended period of time, and we see the temperatures building, day-on-day," he said. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Nolan said: "During these particular systems under the area of high pressure, the air descends. As it descends it's getting compressed and it's trapping down that very warm air across the surface. That's why we're seeing these particularly extreme temperatures at the moment." He said the heat is not just located across the Iberian Peninsula, "it's up through many parts of France, where temperatures will push close to 40C today and even in through much of central Europe, and transferring across to the Balkans and later on towards Greece as well. "Temperatures across these areas will certainly be up into the high 30s, and in some cases into the low 40s, as we go through today and indeed over the next couple of days," he added.
The Journal
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Journal
Spain hits new June temperature record amid 'unprecedented' heatwave across southern Europe
LAST UPDATE | 31 mins ago SPAIN'S NATIONAL WEATHER agency has said temperatures in the south of the country soared to 46 degrees Celsius on Saturday, a new record for June. The mercury climbed to its new high at 3.40pm Irish time in Huelva, near the border with Portugal, edging out the previous record, 45.2 degrees that was set in 1965 in Seville, it said. Spain is among the European countries currently in the grips of a punishing heatwave, with France, Italy and Portugal also sweltering for several days. The heatwave is expected to last until Wednesday. The last three years have been the hottest on record for Spain, according to weather authorities. 'This is unprecedented,' Agner Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said as a record 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest 'orange' heat alert. Only a small sliver of the country in the northwest was not sweltering, according to the Meteo France weather service, which said the heatwave was due to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in the countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Heatwave conditions will affect much of Continental Europe through the next week, but with the focus of the most anomalous heat moving southeast with time Temperatures are expected to be 5-10°C above normal fairly widely, with some locations continuing to exceed 40°C 🌡️ — Met Office (@metoffice) June 29, 2025 Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out in France and Turkey on Sunday, fed by the heat and strong winds. Already last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. 'Not normal' Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, reached up to 44 degrees on Sunday. In Madrid, where temperatures approached 40 degrees, 32-year-old photographer Diego Radames told AFPTV: 'I feel that the heat we're experiencing is not normal for this time of year. 'As the years go by, I have the feeling that Madrid is getting hotter and hotter, especially in the city centre,' he added. Advertisement In Italy, 21 cities across the length of the country were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Rome and Catania. A helicopter responds to a forest fire in Izmir, Turkey. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted,' said British tourist Anna Becker, who had travelled to Rome from a 'muggy, miserable' Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported a 10% increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. 'It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue,' he told AFP. 'More frequent, more intense' Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, were under a red warning until Monday night, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was also on high alert for extreme heat and forest fires on Sunday, as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes on Saturday. Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called 'urban heat island' effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. A tourist cooling off at a fountain in Milan. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years,' said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). 'A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now,' she told AFP. Invasive species The heat is also attracting invasive species, which are thriving in the more tropical climes. ISPRA launched a campaign this week urging fishermen and tourists alike to report sightings of four 'potentially dangerous' venomous species. The lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot are beginning to appear in waters off southern Italy as the Mediterranean warms, it said. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely hitting biodiversity. © AFP 2025
RTHK
3 days ago
- Climate
- RTHK
Health warnings go up as heatwave hits south Europe
Health warnings go up as heatwave hits south Europe People cool off near a water spray in Paris. Photo: NurPhoto via AFP A punishing heatwave gripped southern Europe on Monday, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar again. France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have been sweltering for several days as the mercury climbed to 44 degrees Celsius in some places. "This is unprecedented," Agner Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said as a record 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest orange heat alert. Only a small sliver of the country in the northwest was not sweltering, according to the Meteo France weather service, which said the heatwave was due to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in the countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out on Sunday in France and Turkey, fed by the heat and strong winds. Already last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, had reached up to 44 degrees on Sunday. And in Italy, 21 cities across the length of the country were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Rome and Catania. (AFP)
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Int'l Business Times
Southern Europe Roasts As Temperatures Soar
A punishing heatwave gripped southern Europe on Monday, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar again. France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have been sweltering for several days as the mercury climbed to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in some places. "This is unprecedented," Agner Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said as a record 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest "orange' heat alert. Only a small sliver of the country in the northwest was not sweltering, according to the Meteo France weather service, which said the heatwave was due to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in the countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out Sunday in France and Turkey, fed by the heat and strong winds. Already last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, had reached up to 44C Sunday. In Madrid, where temperatures approached 40C, 32-year-old photographer Diego Radames told AFPTV: "I feel that the heat we're experiencing is not normal for this time of year. "As the years go by, I have the feeling that Madrid is getting hotter and hotter, especially in the city centre," he added. In Italy, 21 cities across the length of the country were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Rome and Catania. "We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted," said British tourist Anna Becker, who had travelled to Rome from a "muggy, miserable" Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported a 10-percent increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. "It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue," he told AFP. Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, were under a red warning until Monday night, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was also on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires -- as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday. Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called "urban heat island" effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. "The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years," said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). "A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now," she told AFP. The heat is also attracting invasive species, which are thriving in the more tropical climes. The lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot are beginning to appear in waters off southern Italy as the Mediterranean warms, it said. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely hitting biodiversity. Large parts of Portugal are on heatwave alert AFP Temperatures have climbed to 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places AFP
