Europe is grappling with an extraordinary autumn, experiencing uncharacteristically high temperatures in October, raising fresh concerns about the ramifications of escalating greenhouse gas emissions on the climate. The delayed onset of the heating season is compounding worries about the impact of climate change on the continent.
Portugal has issued yellow alerts for elevated temperatures in the coming days. Meanwhile, Madrid is set to witness temperatures surpassing 30C (86F) over the weekend, a notable 6C above the normal range, as projected by Maxar Technologies. In London, where cold and dreary weather was the norm during the summer, temperatures are expected to reach a minimum of 22C over three of the next five days. Paris is forecasted to rise to 26C on Tuesday, with above-average temperatures anticipated in Germany and Italy as well.
Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the UK’s Met Office, emphasized the discernible impact of climate change on the country’s weather, citing events becoming increasingly extreme. The UK is bracing for temperatures approximately 6C above the early October average.
The Institute for Sea and Atmosphere in Portugal has warned that the prevailing weather pattern might persist into the next week. Spain recently witnessed an extraordinary six-day streak of high temperatures from September 28 to October 4, and meteorological experts suggest that summer-like conditions could endure for an unprecedented 16 days.
Reflecting on the unusual warmth, Steven Silver, a senior meteorologist at Maxar’s Weather Desk, noted that the current conditions are not only unseasonably warm but potentially approaching record-breaking warmth. As climate change continues to shape weather patterns, the extended warmth in Europe adds urgency to global efforts to address and mitigate the impacts of environmental degradation.
