The weather is going crazy in Europe this summer. What is happening climatologically is unprecedented, we will melt from the heat, according to the latest predictions made by meteorologists.
The summer of 2023 will be hotter than that of 2022, when Europe melted with heat. Climatologists’ warning
The summer that has just begun could be the hottest in history, meteorologists warn, in the context of the return of the El Nino phenomenon.
El Nino causes westward winds along the equator to slow and warm water to be pushed eastward.
How many days of heatwave did we have in 2022
This means that warmer temperatures will be created at the surface of the ocean. Also, the occurrence of this phenomenon could lead to a new average temperature record in 2023 or 2024, reports Reuters.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service report, in 2022, those in southern Europe endured between 70 and 100 days of heat stress, meaning that the temperature felt was at least 32 degrees Celsius.
Record set in Great Britain
It was the first time temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in the UK.
In addition, the heat and lack of rain affected more than a third of the continent. It should be noted that 2022 was also the driest year.
El Nino, associated with record temperatures
“El Nino is normally associated with record temperatures globally. Whether this will happen in 2023 or 2024 is still unknown, but I think it is more likely to happen,” announced Carlo Buontempo, director of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The heat of 2022 caused the death of 20000 people
Last year, Europe had its hottest summer ever. The heat wave killed more than 20,000 people and destroyed crops.
In 2023, the consequences could be even worse, warns a recent report on the effects of global warming.
Summer of 2023, intense heat waves
“From a climatic and statistical point of view we can expect heat waves that will be intense, lasting and over large areas.
Unfortunately, we had a winter in most of Europe without snow, without much precipitation and with quite high temperatures, so that in many areas of western and southern Europe, we already have a precipitation deficit in the spring.
Global warming, the reason for hot summers
We also have problems related to underground water, river flows, and this can also influence extreme temperatures, positive extremes, i.e. we have an amplification of heat waves.
And these things, unfortunately, fit into this logic of global warming, because last year was the 2nd warmest year in Europe.
But things will continue in the years to come and in the decades to come and records will be broken above these, unfortunately”, said climatologist Roxana Bojariu about the summer of 2023.