Extreme heat grips central and eastern US ahead of Fourth of July, while Europe reports over 1,300 excess deaths since mid-June.
8:28 PM
A dangerous heatwave is affecting large portions of the central and eastern United States, with the National Weather Service warning of sustained high temperatures in the days ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. The heat is expected to feel more intense due to accompanying high humidity across the region.
On Sunday, parts of the US were already experiencing temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), particularly in Phoenix and central Texas. The southwest region has been especially affected. More than 130 million Americans across the country face exposure to the extreme conditions, according to forecasters.
The National Weather Service also warned of severe wildfire conditions developing across much of the west, with new fires reported across the region as temperatures climbed.
In Europe, an extreme heatwave has gripped the continent for the past two weeks, with temperatures ranging from the high 90s to low 100s Fahrenheit. Britain's Met Office first warned of a significant heatwave developing across parts of Europe on June 17. Since then, several European nations, including Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, have set heat records.
The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Sunday that high temperatures have been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths reported across Europe since June 21. Heat stress has been described as the "silent killer," with European homes, workplaces and schools not designed for these temperature levels.
In Italy, authorities placed 22 cities under red heat warnings on Monday, spanning from Bolzano in the north to Palermo on the southern island of Sicily. The heatwave has disrupted daily life across the country, with pilgrims at the Vatican using fans and umbrellas to shield themselves from the heat during Pope Leo's Angelus message on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
Croatia's weather service has also issued warnings as the heatwave extends into the Balkans region. Officials across multiple European nations have cancelled outdoor events in response to the dangerous temperatures. Wildfire fears are growing across the continent as conditions remain extreme.
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