The Netherlands and Germany are suffering the consequences of a European heat wave that has brought dought and sparked devastating wildfires in France, Spain, Portugal, Crete and elsewhere. For the Dutch the dry conditions are a threat to hundreds of miles of dikes that protect the low-lying country from flooding in the winter. In Germany, the lack of rainfall has led to record low levels in the Rhine, one of Europe's major rivers and a superhighway for freight that is transported in ships along its navigation channels. Dutch authorities are patrolling dikes to check for possible damage as the structures dry out.
Dangerous heat has hit parts of the Western U.S. this weekend, prompting warnings for people to stay inside and heightening wildfire risks in many areas. A high-pressure ridge has been holding heat close to the ground from Arizona to Montana. Meteorologists say the good news is that it will be relatively short-lived. The National Weather Service forecast high temps in a variety of cities Saturday. By late afternoon, Las Vegas reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit. That is the highest temperature of the year.
Two new studies reveal climate change's fingerprints over extreme fire weather-triggering infernos in Spain and France. Researchers at World Weather Attribution found human-caused climate change made Spain's record fire 20 times more likely and doubled the chances of extreme fire conditions in France. Another study shows extreme fire-prone days in Southern Europe have more than doubled compared to decades ago. Experts emphasize that climate change is already impacting fire severity and stress the need to stop burning fossil fuels.
As wildfires and successive heatwaves in France and Spain highlight climate change's impact, a severe drought is causing record low water levels on the Danube River, affecting tourism and industry. The river, which flows through 10 countries, has receded to unprecedented lows, exposing rocks and old shipwrecks. In Budapest, the Danube was measured at just 23 centimeters, breaking previous records. River cruise ships are docking upriver, and sightseeing cruises have been canceled. The drought has also affected Hungary and Romania's nuclear power plant operations, exposed a World War II bomb, and ended the summer season for excursion boat operators in Serbia.
France has allowed 84,000 evacuees to return home after a massive wildfire, signaling progress in battling the flames. The fire has burned an area four times the size of Paris. However, wildfires continue to flare across Europe, fueled by an exceptionally hot and dry summer. Firefighters are tackling blazes in the U.K., Spain, Germany, Greece, and Turkey. Hollywood star George Clooney evacuated his French home due to a nearby fire. In France, authorities are using water cannons and international aid to control the situation. Cooler weather and rain are helping efforts, but conditions remain challenging.
