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Fast Company
5 days ago
- Climate
- Fast Company
The world is melting. This shade map is the only thing that can save us
BY Listen to this Article More info 0:00 / 6:26 The sun is liquifying Madrid. Again. June 2025 shattered temperature records, with Spain recording its hottest June since weather records began in 1961. The month averaged 74.5°F, with a peak temperature of 114.8°F in El Granado, Huelva, while the Spanish capital experienced temperatures as high as 102°F. Now another heat wave is coming that will easily beat 40°C, which I believe is equivalent to 'lava' in Fahrenheit. I shouldn't have been surprised to discovered that, of course, there's an app for that: One that makes summer urban wandering a bit less dangerous by telling you which streets have more shade in a city at any given time. Usually, reasonable people would stay at home, but Spaniards being Spaniards, the 'Call of the Terrace' is too strong to resist. Our nature is weak even in the face of a deluge of deadly photons from our home star. We are like water buffalos herding towards the water knowing that death by crocodile awaits. It doesn't matter: 'Cañas'—the deliciously cold foamy tap beer served in very small glasses that you must drink before you die —'tapas', and messing around with friends in a shady terrace is all that counts. That's why yesterday a friend shared a tweet that said 'Google Maps is taking too long to include the option of how to get there but 'por la sombra.'' That's an idiom that literally means 'through the shade' and figuratively means to be careful and protect yourself, which you really need to do here during the summer (more than a thousand deaths attributed to heat waves in the last two months, the government says). I thought the idea of a navigation app to show you routes through streets with the most shade was a clever idea. After all, I've been playing that game with my son walking these past few weeks, back and forth to the summer camp bus, triangulating in our heads the optimal street walking sequence to avoid this ultraviolet tsunami. That's when another friend chimed in with a solution: 'I have become addicted to this website. Photography directors use to see if a location is in the sun or in the shade. It's a 'Google Maps of shade'.' He then pasted a link to something called Shademap. It was cool: A 3D map that could put you anywhere in the world to visually show the buildings' shadows on the street at any time and any day, for free. For a bit of money you can also see the shade projected by terrain and actual trees captured with aerial LiDAR, the laser sensor that creates three-dimensional maps of the world. The Shademap interface has a search bar on the top to find a location, which you can adjust using the same mouse conventions of Google Maps. A bar on the bottom allows you to easily select the date and time, which you can animate just by scrubbing a timeline. Seeing the shadows change throughout the day is surprisingly fun. You should try it. Sunlight is everything Shademap exists because life and every significant decision related to the design of our environment comes down to the sun. Homeowners planning a house extension may need to know how their addition will affect their neighbor's garden or their own. Real estate buyers want to understand whether that cool Manhattan duplex with a glass rooftop will become a radioactive death chamber by July. Landscape designers must predict which plants will thrive and which will wither on a certain spot based on seasonal sun exposure. Architects use it to position windows that maximize winter warmth while minimizing summer heat. Urban planners rely on shadow analysis to design parks and public infrastructure that people can enjoy. Solar power installers calculate optimal placement sites and angles in a house or a factory to maximize energy capture. The latter is especially important as the world moves away from fossil fuels: Knowing the solar energy potential for any location is what allows engineers to design massive solar farms. And there's the film and leisure aspect that I already mentioned. Shademap is the kind of tool that makes you realize how much of our world depends on understanding a single, predictable celestial body that we regular peeps largely ignore until it's trying to kill us. In my quest to find a dedicated shaded terrace locator, I also found an alternative to Shademap called Shadowmap, a professional tool which a more polished interface that offers a lot more features than Shademap. It's divided in three tiers. You can use it for free, too, which provides basic functionality including sun path visualization, current-day time changes, and worldwide 3D buildings and terrain. Shadowmap Explorer ($2.50/month) adds full camera freedom and first-person view, making it ideal for photographers, film crews, and event planners, or dedicated hikers (the antithesis of the Spanish terrace buffalo). Shadowmap Home ($8.33/month) includes all Explorer features plus high-quality 3D buildings, satellite maps, enhanced rendering options, and global weather/UV forecasts—designed for homeowners, gardeners, and property seekers who want to really look at how a new home will get illuminated throughout the year. For professionals, there's Shadowmap Studio ($58/month annually), which includes everything plus the ability to upload custom 3D models of your own projects, interactive solar analytics, project sharing capabilities, and Google's high-resolution satellite imagery. This tier is specifically designed for architects, urban planners, real estate professionals, and solar energy specialists who need advanced modeling capabilities. Which, OK, whatever, cool I guess. The question remains, 'Where can I have a caña and eat half a dozen gildas without melting into the sidewalk?' That's the tier I'm missing, Shadowmap, Shademap, Google, and whomever in hell is reading this. Make it a phone app, too, so I can search directly for 'terraces in the shade near me RIGHT NOW!!' It will kill it in Spain—and the rest of the world—I tell you. (But only Spain gets the jamón ibérico and boquerones lubricated with vermouth.) The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jesus Diaz is a screenwriter and producer whose latest work includes the mini-documentary series Control Z: The Future to Undo, the futurist daily Novaceno, and the book The Secrets of Lego House. More Explore Topics
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Frightening moment beachgoers scream as 'mini-tsunami' hits south of Spain leaving eight injured
This is the dramatic moment beachgoers can be heard screaming as a 'mini-tsunami' crashes into the coastline in southern Spain. At least eight people, including children, were left injured after the powerful wave slammed into the beach in Mazagon, Huelva. Click to watch the heart-stopping video above.
Fast Company
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Fast Company
Barcelona is having the hottest June in over 100 years as a severe heat wave grips Europe
Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started over a century ago, Spain's national weather service said on Tuesday as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heat wave this summer. The Fabra Observatory, located on a hill overlooking Barcelona, reported an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking records since 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6 C in 2003. The same weather station said that a single-day high of 37.9 C (100 F) for June was recorded Monday, June 30. Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean in Spain's northeastern corner. But most of the country has been gripped by the first heat wave of the year. Health warnings were in effect Tuesday in several European Union countries even as conditions began to improve in some parts of the region. Punishing temperatures were forecast to reach 40 C (104 F) in Paris and to stay unusually high in Belgium and the Netherlands. In contrast, temperatures were falling in Portugal, where no red heat warnings were issued. Spain saw a new high mark for June established on Saturday when 46 C (114F) was recorded in the southern province of Huelva, while Sunday's national average of 28 C (82F) set a record for a high temperature for June 29 since records were started in 1950. 'We are seeing these temperatures because we are experiencing a very intense heat wave that has come early in the summer and that is clearly linked to global warming,' Ramón Pascual, the regional delegate for Spain's weather service in Barcelona, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. France suffocates In France, the national weather agency Météo-France placed several departments under the highest red alert, with the Paris region particularly hard hit. The heat wave, defined as consecutive days of very high temperature, is expected to intensify Tuesday with more than 1,300 schools set to be partially or fully closed, the Education Ministry said. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were told to postpone their visits as the summit of the city's landmark was closed until Thursday. Météo-France also warned of the heightened risk of wildfires due to the drought-stricken soil, compounded by a lack of rain in June and the recent surge in temperature. Climate experts warn that future summers are likely to be hotter than any recorded to date. By 2100, France could be up to 4 C (39 F) warmer, with temperatures exceeding 40 C expected every year and extreme heat spikes potentially reaching 50 C (122 F). According to Météo-France, the country may face a tenfold increase in the number of heat wave days by 2100. Man dies in Italy Farther south, 17 of Italy's 27 major cities were experiencing a heat wave, according to the Health Ministry. There were torrential rains in Italy's north on Monday and parts of Bardonecchia near Turin were covered in sludge after the Frejus river burst its banks. Near Bologna, one of the cities under a heat alert Tuesday, the 46-year-old owner of a construction company collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot, state-run RAI reported. An autopsy was being conducted to determine the cause, but heat was suspected. The CGIL labor union said the death of the man, whom it identified as Ait El Hajjam Brahim, owner of Veneto Pavimenti SAS, showed the need for improved measures to protect construction workers from heat exposure. The Netherlands sweating An annual event in Amsterdam to commemorate the end of slavery in former Dutch colonies was moved forward to avoid the hottest part of the day and in the northern city of Groningen, organizers of an outdoor concert featuring veteran rocker Neil Young also took measures, including adding extra drinking water taps and providing free sunblock. The national weather institute issued an alert for extreme temperatures and smog in parts of the country and warned the eastern Netherlands that severe thunderstorms could break out on Wednesday as the hot weather ends. Portugal improving In Portugal, Lisbon was forecast to reach 33 C (91 F), typical for this time of the year, though some inland areas could still see peaks of 43 C (109 F), according to the national weather agency. June temperature records were broken in two locations in Portugal on June 29. The Portuguese weather service issued a statement Monday night confirming the highest single temperature ever recorded in mainland Portugal for the month of June at 46.6 C on June 29 in the town of Mora, west of Lisbon. The prior record was 44.9 C in 2017. Wilson reported from Barcelona. Jill Lawless in London, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Mike Corder in The Netherlands and David Biller in Rome contributed to this report.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Barcelona records the hottest June ever as a heat wave grips Europe
PARIS: Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started over a century ago, Spain's national weather service said on Tuesday as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heat wave this summer. The Fabra Observatory reported an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking records since 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6 C in 2003. The same weather station said that a single-day high of 37.9 C (100 F) for June was recorded Monday. Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean in Spain's northeastern corner. But most of the country has been gripped by the extreme heat. Health warnings remained in effect Tuesday in several European countries. Punishing temperatures were forecast to reach 40 C (104 F) in Paris and to stay unusually high in Belgium and the Netherlands. Spain's national average for June of 23.6 C (74 F) was 0.8 C hotter than the previous hottest June in 2017. It was also that first time that June was hotter than the average temperatures for both July and August. Spain saw a new high mark for June established on Saturday when 46 C (114F) was recorded in the southern province of Huelva since national records were started in 1950. 'We are seeing these temperatures because we are experiencing a very intense heat wave that has come early in the summer and that is clearly linked to global warming,' Ramón Pascual, the regional delegate for Spain's weather service in Barcelona, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. France suffocates In France, the national weather agency Météo-France placed several departments under the highest red alert, with the Paris region particularly hard hit. More than 1,300 schools were partially or fully closed in the country. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were told to postpone their visits as the summit of the city's landmark was closed until Thursday. Climate experts warn that future summers are likely to be hotter than any recorded to date. By 2100, France could be up to 4 C (39 F) warmer, with temperatures exceeding 40 C expected every year and extreme heat spikes potentially reaching 50 C (122 F). Man dies in Italy Farther south, 17 of Italy's 27 major cities were experiencing a heat wave, according to the health ministry. There were torrential rains in Italy's north on Monday and parts of Bardonecchia near Turin were covered in sludge after the Frejus river burst its banks. Near Bologna, one of the cities under a heat alert Tuesday, the 46-year-old owner of a construction company collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot, state-run RAI reported. An autopsy was being conducted to determine the cause, but heat was suspected. The CGIL labor union said the death of the man, whom it identified as Ait El Hajjam Brahim, owner of Veneto Pavimenti SAS, showed the need for improved measures to protect construction workers from heat exposure. The Netherlands sweating An annual event in Amsterdam to commemorate the end of slavery in former Dutch colonies was moved forward to avoid the hottest part of the day. People attending the event, including the city's mayor, sat under white parasols and tried to keep cool with paper fans. In the central town of Soest, first responders said they were bringing a firehose to an early evening water gun fight. 'Bring your water pistol and swimming clothes with you, because you're guaranteed to get soaked!' the firefighters said in an Instagram post. In the northern city of Groningen, organizers of an outdoor concert featuring veteran rocker Neil Young also took measures, including adding extra drinking water taps and providing free sunblock. Portugal record The Portuguese weather service issued a statement Monday night confirming the highest single temperature ever recorded in mainland Portugal for the month of June at 46.6 C (115 F) on June 29 in the town of Mora, west of Lisbon. The prior record was 44.9 C (112 F) in 2017. Wildfires in Turkiye Firefighters across Turkiye combated wildfires for a third consecutive day on Tuesday. The fires have damaged dozens of homes and forced the evacuation of some 50,000 residents. The crews were nearing containment of two major fires in the Aegean province of İzmir and another in neighboring Manisa, Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı said. They were however, struggling with a large, wind-driven fire still sweeping through the southern province of Hatay. Relieving animals in Prague Temperatures were expected to reach 37 C (98.6 F) by Wednesday in large parts of the Czech Republic, including the capital. The Prague zoo took extraordinary measures to provide some relief to their animals as zookeepers started to distribute up to 10 metric tons of ice daily across the park. The polar bears native to the Arctic are a major concern for the zoo, director Miroslav Bobek said. Twin brothers Aleut and Gregor looked pleased when they found parts of their open-air enclosure covered with a thick layer of ice on Tuesday morning. They used the familiar substance to lie on it and roll on their backs. As a bonus, they discovered frozen pieces of squid among the pieces of ice.
CBC
01-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Barcelona records hottest June in more than 100 years as blistering heat wave grips Europe
Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started more than a century ago, Spain's national weather service said on Tuesday as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heat wave this summer. The Can Fabra Observatory, located on a hill overlooking Barcelona, reported an average temperature of 26 C, breaking records since 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6 C in 2003. The same weather station said that a single-day high of 37.9 C for June was recorded on Monday. Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean in Spain's northeastern corner. But most of the country has been gripped by the first heat wave of the year. Health warnings were in effect Tuesday in several European Union countries even as conditions began to improve in some parts of the region. Punishing temperatures were forecast to reach 40 C in Paris and to stay unusually high in Belgium and the Netherlands. In contrast, temperatures were falling in Portugal, where no red heat warnings were issued. Spain saw a new high mark for June established on Saturday when 46 C was recorded in the southern province of Huelva, while Sunday's national average of 28 C set a record for a high temperature for June 29 since records were started in 1950. "We are seeing these temperatures because we are experiencing a very intense heat wave that has come early in the summer and that is clearly linked to global warming," Ramón Pascual, the regional delegate for Spain's weather service in Barcelona, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. WATCH | Tourists look for shade as parts of Europe grapple with heat wave: Europe sweltering under early summer heat dome 23 hours ago Duration 4:01 Major cities and tourist destinations across Europe are recording unusually high temperatures as June draws to a close. In southern Europe, the hot, dry weather created conditions for wildfires. In France, the national weather agency Météo-France placed several departments under the highest red alert, with the Paris region particularly hard hit. The heat wave, defined as consecutive days of very high temperature, is expected to intensify Tuesday with more than 1,300 schools set to be partially or fully closed, the Education Ministry said. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were told to postpone their visits as the summit of the city's landmark was closed until Thursday. Météo-France also warned of the heightened risk of wildfires due to the drought-stricken soil, compounded by a lack of rain in June and the recent surge in temperature. Climate experts warn that future summers are likely to be hotter than any recorded to date. By 2100, France could be up to 4 C warmer, with temperatures exceeding 40 C expected every year and extreme heat spikes potentially reaching 50 C. According to Météo-France, the country may face a tenfold increase in the number of heat wave days by 2100. Farther south, 17 of Italy's 27 major cities were experiencing a heat wave, according to the Health Ministry. There were torrential rains in Italy's north on Monday and parts of Bardonecchia near Turin were covered in sludge after the Frejus River burst its banks. Near Bologna, one of the cities under a heat alert Tuesday, the 46-year-old owner of a construction company collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot, state-run RAI reported. An autopsy was being conducted to determine the cause, but heat was suspected. The CGIL labour union said the death of the man, whom it identified as Ait El Hajjam Brahim, owner of Veneto Pavimenti SAS, showed the need for improved measures to protect construction workers from heat exposure. An annual event in Amsterdam to commemorate the end of slavery in former Dutch colonies was moved forward to avoid the hottest part of the day and in the northern city of Groningen, organizers of an outdoor concert featuring veteran rocker Neil Young also took measures, including adding extra drinking water taps and providing free sunblock. The national weather institute issued an alert for extreme temperatures and smog in parts of the country and warned the eastern Netherlands that severe thunderstorms could break out on Wednesday as the hot weather ends. In Portugal, Lisbon was forecast to reach 33 C, typical for this time of the year, though some inland areas could still see peaks of 43 C, according to the national weather agency. June temperature records were broken in two locations in Portugal on June 29.
