Wildfires and violent storms have swept across Europe, causing widespread destruction and fatalities as the continent grapples with extreme weather conditions. Firefighters in northeastern Spain battled a massive wildfire that has consumed an area the size of San Francisco, forcing the evacuation of over 1,000 people. The fire, fueled by tinder-dry vegetation from successive heatwaves, has been difficult to contain despite the deployment of 30 aircraft and hundreds of firefighters.
In France, a "supercell" thunderstorm brought strong winds and hailstones measuring up to 5 cm (2 inches), causing two trucks to overturn on a major highway. The storm also led to fatalities, including a woman killed by a falling tree and a man who died after his workshop was struck by lightning. In Germany, severe storms toppled trees, killing a cyclist and injuring a child in Karlsruhe.
The extreme weather has exacerbated existing challenges across Europe. In France, a prolonged drought has worsened since May, while a gas-fired power plant in the south faces the risk of going offline due to high Mediterranean Sea temperatures limiting cooling water access. The Rhine River in Germany has seen shallow water levels, hindering shipping and raising transport costs, though recent rains have provided some relief.
Scientists widely attribute the unprecedented temperatures and extreme weather events to human-driven climate change. The average high across Western Europe on Friday was forecast to be 27.5 degrees Celsius (81.5 degrees Fahrenheit), 4.2 C above the normal high for mid-July. The heatwaves have caused water shortages, crop damage, and thousands of excess deaths across the continent.
Authorities and experts warn of more deadly weeks ahead as the continent continues to face the consequences of extreme weather.