Heatwaves are boosted by climate change - scientists
People enjoying the early morning sunshine in Dalkey Co.Dublin. Pic: Justin Farrelly.
People enjoying the early morning sunshine in Dun Laoghaire Co.Dublin. Pic: Justin Farrelly.
People enjoying the early morning sunshine in Dun Laoghaire Co.Dublin. Pic: Justin Farrelly.
People enjoying the early morning sunshine in Dun Laoghaire Co.Dublin. Pic: Justin Farrelly.
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The last day of June was the hottest day of the year, with temperatures soaring to 25.6C in the Phoenix Park, the highest on record since 1996.
Meanwhile, Germany and Spain sweated and London sweltered through its hottest July day on record this week.
Now scientists have said it is "virtually certain" that climate change is increasing the likelihood of such heatwaves in Europe.
Hitting
A team of international climate scientists said the kind of heatwaves hitting Europe this week - defined as three-day periods of excessive heat - are becoming much more frequent in the region.
In De Bilt in the Netherlands, for example, a heatwave like the one forecast for the next few days would have been a roughly one-in-30-years event in the 1900s, according to the scientists. It is now likely to happen every three-and-a-half years, they said.
London also saw its hottest recorded July day on Wednesday, with temperatures at Heathrow hitting 36.7 Celsius.