Extreme heat is becoming prevalent throughout southern Europe, and some areas may be experiencing unusual high temperature .
The World Meteorological Organisation has warned that extreme weather resulting from a warming climate is “unfortunately becoming the new normal”.
This week, Sardinia’s high might be 47 degrees Celsius, according to Italian media. In Sicily in August 2021, a temperature of 48.8C (120F) set a record for Europe.
Red alerts have been issued by Italian authorities for 16 cities, and 4,000 people have been evacuated due to a wildfire on the Canary island of La Palma.
In addition to enduring heat waves, China has also seen its highest temperature ever, 52.2C, on Sunday in Xinjiang in the north-west, according to the Met Office.
Millions of people in the US are under excessive heat warnings due to a heat dome over the south-west, and analysts predict that temperature records will likely be smashed.
Death Valley in California reported a temperature of 53.9°C (128°F) on Sunday; the highest temperature reliably measured on Earth is 56.7°C (134°F).
Authorities in Serbia have placed the entire country on the highest level of alert due to the heat. In the capital, Belgrade, an emergency services doctor said she and her colleagues had “performed 45 interventions” by 10am this morning.
Emergency calls are only likely to increase as temperatures in Belgrade rise during the day, to a peak of 39C. Dr Ivana Stefanovic called on people to “behave sensibly” and stay indoors.
For the upcoming week, North Macedonia’s government has implemented emergency measures. The elderly and pregnant women who are vulnerable will not be required to commute to work. The government is also requesting that everyone working outside conclude their shift by 11 a.m.
As a result of the threat of wildfires, forested regions of national parks are fully blocked off to visitors.