This summer is very hot – both in Europe and partly here in Germany. This is shown at first glance by the red colors of the weather maps: In Germany it will be warmer again this Wednesday in the south than in the north, where cooling rain will occasionally fall. But the regions on the North and Baltic Seas have also had very warm periods this year.
In view of the heat here in these summer months a health policy debate has also flared up: Do we in Germany need a siesta like we know it from southern European countries? So get up early and work when it’s cooler – and then take a long break in the hot midday hours?
A corresponding demand came from the Association of Medical Officers. In view of the current heat, workers in Germany should “orient themselves to the working methods of southern countries,” said Johannes Nießen to the newspapers of the editorial network Germany (RND) for this Tuesday’s edition. Nießen is the chairman of the Federal Association of Physicians in the Public Health Service (BVÖGD).
The industrial trade union Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) signaled general approval, which confirmed that people who work outdoors must be protected above all. However, starting very early in the morning on construction sites, for example, is hardly possible because noise protection rules have to be observed. If people can’t work because of the heat, the state should pay compensation, according to the union.
Would you like to know where in Germany the temperatures are currently the highest? The live map below shows it. For a forecast for the coming days, click on the “Play” button at the bottom left. You can also switch the view at the top right of the menu, for example to rain and thunderstorms.
The service is provided by Windy.com. The makers use the model from the “European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts” for their representations and forecasts.
Heat poses health risks for people – including dehydration and heat stroke. Doctors therefore advise staying in cool rooms if possible, drinking a lot and avoiding the midday sun. Heat can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, the sick and children.
However, the understanding of “heat” is probably very different in Europe. It is currently much warmer in the south of the continent than in Germany. The European space agency Esa had even predicted temperatures of up to 48 degrees for parts of the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia for Tuesday, as reported by the AFP news agency on the same day and as picked up by many media, including the star at this point became.
However, there was much criticism of this figure throughout the day as the forecast was based on ground temperature, which was not reported in all reports. However, the official air temperature is measured at a height of two meters, as explained by the “Weather Online” portal, for example. And those values are currently a few degrees lower because the ground heats up more than the air.
The Italian islands were still a few degrees away from temperatures of around 48 degrees. Nevertheless – it’s always hot. Italy’s weather service warned of one of the most extreme heat waves of all time this week. This Wednesday, the highest heat alert level is due to be declared in 23 major cities, before temperatures could drop somewhat towards the end of the week.
The overview below shows the expected maximum temperatures for today. It is provided by the Wetter.de portal, which, like the star, belongs to RTL Germany. Clicking on the graphic takes you to the provider and you can request further details.
In view of the sometimes long-lasting drought in Europe, forest fires keep breaking out, most recently, for example, on the Canary Island of La Palma and near the Greek capital Athens. Although the Greek weather service is assuming a slight cooling of a few degrees in the coming days, parts of the country are expected to be extremely hot again from Thursday.
It’s holiday time now – many people from Germany travel south and experience the extreme temperatures there firsthand. The popular island of Mallorca, for example, was one of the hottest regions in Spain on Tuesday with peak values of around 44 degrees, as reported by the German Press Agency. The Ballermann was therefore 38 degrees. The extreme heat is a big topic in the Spanish media.
The Balearic archipelago, of which Mallorca is the largest, is one of the regions in Spain where the highest heat alert level was declared on Tuesday. It was extremely warm in the regions of Catalonia and Aragon. According to data from the Spanish weather service Aemet, 45.3 degrees was measured in Figueres, Catalonia. Spain is currently struggling through what is already the third heat wave this year.
The ubiquitous heat in Europe is likely to be the dominant theme of this summer for the foreseeable future. The two maps linked above in this article show how hot it is in the individual regions.
Sources: “Wetter.de”, union IG Bau, “Wetteronline” / with material from AFP and dpa
