High temperatures and heatwaves have swept across Europe. Last weekend, France already reported three deaths related to the heat, and as the coming days could be even hotter, multiple countries have implemented countermeasures such as school closures and reduced train services.
The extreme heat is severely impacting public transportation systems. To reduce the risk of rail deformation or vehicle malfunctions due to high temperatures, both France and Belgium have announced train service reductions.
The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium has warned that Belgium may face the highest temperatures on record over the next week.
France’s 2003 Heatwave Claimed 15,000 Lives
Of France's 96 provinces, warnings of red alert for high temperatures have been issued in 49, up from 35 provinces last weekend. Government agencies have already suspended classes at 845 schools, with another 1,800 schools set to let students out early.
French meteorologists say the disaster wrought by this heatwave could be as severe as August 2003, when nearly 15,000 people in France lost their lives.
In the UK, forecasts suggest the current June temperature record will be “completely shattered,” just as happened in May. “An unprecedented heatwave will occur over the next week, with temperatures possibly reaching 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. The current June record is 35.6 degrees.”