Environment & Energy

hatrack

(59,584 posts) Tue Jun 21, 2022, 09:34 AM Jun 2022

Hundreds Of Temperature Records - Daily, Monthly, All-Time - Fall In EU Before Summer Even Starts

A punishing early-season heat wave that tormented large swaths of Europe over the weekend is easing after delivering hundreds of record high temperatures. Temperatures between 104 and 110 degrees (40 to 43 Celsius) were common from Spain to Germany. The most extreme temperatures compared to normal focused in France, where monthly and even all-time records were broken.

EDIT

The pre-summer surge of heat marked the second in Europe since May as human-caused climate change increases the frequency and intensity of excessively high temperatures. While Europe baked, parts of the United States endured abnormally hot weather at the same time. Given the persistent heat and near-solstice sunshine, sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean Sea have spiked. Near-shore values around 5 degrees Celsius (10 Fahrenheit) above normal help ensure that any cooling from hot air passing over water is minimal while probably harming marine life.

EDIT

At least 200 monthly records were also topped across the country, including 107.4 degrees (41.9 Celsius) in Cazaux, 104.9 degrees (40.5 Celsius) in Bordeaux and 104.5 degrees (40.3 Celsius) in Dax. In Spain’s Basque Country, where temperatures were scorching for most of last week, San Sebastián reached 111 degrees (43.9 Celsius), demolishing the old all-time record, as seen in the graphic below from climatologist Daniel Argueso.

Link to tweet

EDIT

Heat reached its apex Sunday in Germany and neighboring countries. Multiple stations set all-time record highs, with many more setting monthly marks.