Europe is in the grip of a relentless and deadly heat wave, with temperature records expected to be shattered this week. The heat has quickly turned deadly, with dozens of people drowning since June 18, according to France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Three elderly people also lost their lives in the heat near Bordeaux, and two children aged two and four were found dead in a hot car in southern France.

Heat Records Broken

In France, several towns endured their hottest day on record Monday, and the country broke its record for the hottest night since measurements began in 1947, reaching 70.9 degrees Fahrenheit. The UK is also expected to see temperatures soar into the triple digits this week, with the UK Met Office issuing a rare red warning for extreme heat.

The heat wave is caused by a heat dome, a vast area of stagnant high pressure parked over Europe, which acts like a lid on a pot, trapping heat. Climate change is supercharging the heat, with scientists warning that this extreme heat is a huge problem for Europe and a wake-up call to a new reality.

Consequences of the Heat

The heat has already had severe consequences, with hundreds of schools closing or moving to half days, and people being told to avoid train journeys. The Met Office has warned of severe impacts on energy and water, and London is cooking, according to UN Secretary General António Guterres.

The heat is not just an inconvenience, but a growing public health threat, with the body starting to lose its ability to cool itself down in extreme temperatures, potentially causing heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.