- Organizers of Tour de France have warned fans that the third stage will be affected by the heat, after temperatures in Pyrénées-Orientales reached record levels.
- In Greece, for 48 hours, 96 wildfires have broken out; the biggest wildfire has been in the area of Aín, with 29 outbreaks and more than 200 fires.
- The UK’s Met Office has forecast that the heatwave will continue for the next three hours after 8pm for Midlands residents, according to UKHSA.
Europe is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, which is causing record-breaking temperatures for the health of its residents. In particular, the French authorities have warned that the heatwave will be felt across Pyrénées-Orientales and will affect the third stage of the Tour de France.
The Tour de France organizers said that, due to the scale of the heatwave, the stage will be modified in order to reduce the risks to riders and ensure their safety. This means that, in addition to the usual distance, the riders will cover no more than 40 kilometers, with the route being adjusted to avoid the hottest parts of the day. In the meantime, the organizers said the weather conditions are expected to worsen, with temperatures reaching up to 10 kilometers per hour, and that it will be impossible to continue the stage as planned. The organizers said that the riders will be able to take breaks and that the route will be adjusted in order to reduce the risk of heatstroke.
According to the forecast, the heatwave in France will be accompanied by very high temperatures, with the temperature in the area of 1,821 hectares (4,500 acres), and at least 700 fires breaking out due to the heat. It is also expected that, in the coming hours, the situation will worsen due to the wind, with the fire spreading across the area. The authorities said that the situation is being monitored and that the fire is not expected to be contained immediately.
Earlier, it was reported that in Greece, for 48 hours, 96 wildfires broke out. According to a statement by Greece’s Civil Protection, the scale of the fires has been unprecedented, with 29 outbreaks and more than 200 fires, and the authorities said that the situation may worsen further.
Weather forecasters say the heatwave is likely to continue for several days. According to the Spanish weather service AEMET, during the heatwave, temperatures in the region of Spain are expected to reach 37–42 C, with maximum temperatures between 20 C and 33 C in the coming days. In addition, it is expected that the heatwave will intensify further.
One block of the heatwave is affecting the UK. The temperature is expected to rise sharply, with the UK experiencing temperatures of up to three degrees Celsius for the next three hours, which could make conditions dangerous. The Met Office said that, in some areas, temperatures could reach 34C in the afternoon. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also warned that in the Midlands, the heatwave could last until 8pm, with temperatures rising to dangerous levels.