Europe counts cost as rivers run low and wildfires blaze evacuations
Brutal heat waves strain continent as extremes now become the norm
By Jonathan Powell in London |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Updated: 2026-08-14 20:52
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Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the ECMWF, said scorching temperatures and persistent droughts reinforced each other to create a hot weather spiral, as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heat waves.
"Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe; the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily," said Burgess. "This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another."
