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Millions of people in the Northern Hemisphere are enduring sustained periods of sweltering heat as the world is on track for its hottest July since measurements began, according to the European Union's climate observatory.
In Italy, red alerts were in force on Wednesday in all but four of the country's 27 main metropolitan areas. Temperatures during the hottest part of the day were considered a threat to even young and healthy individuals.
In Spain, the heat wave in more than 30 districts in the southern and eastern parts of the country was classified as "extreme," the most severe of the five categories. Temperatures on Tuesday peaked at 45.4 degrees Celsius in Figueres, hometown of Salvador Dali in Catalonia region, a record high for the northeastern region.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said it was "monitoring potential new temperature records" not only in Europe but in the entire Mediterranean basin, plus in North America, Northern Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
Vast regions in the western United States are expected to break all-time heat records as a dangerous heat wave continues to hit the west and south of the country. Temperatures could approach 54.4 degrees Celsius in parts of Arizona and Nevada, with forecasters warning of the possibility of all-time highs in both Phoenix and Las Vegas.
China reported on Monday a new mid-July high of 52.2 degrees Celsius in Sanbao Village in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, breaking the previous high of 50.6 degrees Celsius set six years ago.
"Intense heat is gripping large parts of the Northern Hemisphere in this summer of extremes," the WMO said in a statement released on Tuesday. "New daily and station temperature records have been broken, and it is possible that some national records may fall. The World Meteorological Organization will examine any potential new continental temperature records as the heatwave continues."
The soaring temperatures and dry weather have also sparked wildfires, causing massive economic and social damage.
In Spain, a wildfire on the Canary Island of La Palma has burned over 3,500 hectares of land and destroyed around 20 houses and buildings. Wildfires in Greece raged for a third day on Wednesday, destroying forests and forcing people to evacuate, while Greek authorities warned of strong winds and a second heat wave for later this week.
Canadian wildfires have burned more than 10 million hectares this year, according to government data. In total, 4,088 fires have occurred since January, including many blazes that have scorched hundreds of thousands of hectares.
"Climate change is warming up the entire climate system. And this year in particular, on top of this trend we have two phenomena that are likely to play a role: El Nino and unusually high ocean temperatures linked to weaker than normal winds," said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
El Nino events, which occur every two to seven years, are marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific near the Equator, and last about nine to 12 months.
"More intense and extreme heat is unavoidable. It is imperative to prepare and adapt as cities, homes, workplaces are not built to withstand prolonged high temperatures," said John Nairn, senior WMO extreme heat advisor, in a statement.
(CGTN)
