'Heat dome' in Europe 'a serious public health emergency' amid red heat warnings

Irish tourists have been issued health and safety warning as Europe is facing extreme heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

A 'heat dome' is currently causing extreme heat in countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Turkey and Greece as well as the high risk for the occurrence of wildfires.

Turkey is already battling wildfires and local authorities across Europe have warned local people and tourists to be very careful during these times.

According to Euronews.com, authorities in Portugal have issued a red heat warning as temperatures hit 43°C and almost all inland areas were at high risk of wildfires.

In Italy, the Health Ministry put 21 cities under its level three “red” alert, which indicates “emergency conditions with possible negative effects” on healthy, active people as well as at-risk old people, children and chronically ill people.

Dr Raquel Nunes, Associate Professor in Health and Environment, University of Warwick, said:

“Heatwaves are not just periods of hot weather, they are serious public health emergencies that can be deadly, specifically for vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those facing poverty, social isolation, or homelessness," according to Science Media Centre.

Dr Michael Byrne, Reader in Climate Science, University of St Andrews, said:

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“Heat domes – the cause of this week’s European heatwave – are nothing new. They have always happened and always will happen. Heat domes occur when high pressure weather systems, normally lasting a few days, get stuck in place for a week or more. When this atmospheric ‘blocking’ happens in summertime, heatwaves occur. But what is new are the temperatures heat domes deliver: Europe is more than 2 degrees Celsius warmer than in pre-industrial times, so when a heat dome occurs it drives a hotter heatwave.

“Some research suggests heat domes will become more common as climate warms, with more frequent heatwaves as a result. There is large uncertainty regarding the future of heat domes, with no scientific consensus yet. But what is crystal clear is that climate change is loading the dice such that when a heat dome does occur, it brings hotter and more dangerous temperatures.”