A European forecaster has warned there is a “very serious risk” of wildfires in parts of the UK as the country battles 40C temperatures.
The European Forest Fire Information System has issued the warning for parts of the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Italy – the highest risk on the European Medium-Range Weather Forecast’s Fire Weather Index.
In the UK, the most exposed area on the map, highlighted in dark purple, is south-east England, the same area of the country expected to record England’s highest temperatures on Tuesday.
The Met Office has predicted “exceptional” temperatures with the mercury expected to rise above 40C in parts of eastern England. The UK has recorded its warmest night overnight.
Wales recorded two record high temperatures in one day on Monday and Scotland could also record its hottest day ever, including the Scottish Borders, with 34C forecast, the Met Office said.
Wildfires have been raging across the continent in recent weeks due to extreme heat and drought, with more than 40,000 hectares burning across France, Spain and Portugal in the past 10 days. The Gironde region of southwestern France, Extremadura and Galácia in Spain and parts of Portugal were badly affected.
The total carbon emissions from wildfires in Spain between June 1 and July 18 were the highest for the June-July period of 2003-2021, according to the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom firefighters said on Monday There were 24 wildfires in England and Wales in 48 hours. – more than double the number recorded in the whole of July last year.
“Everything in the country is dry,” said Paul Hedley, the National Council of Fire Chiefs’ lead on wildfires. independent, Urging the public to be “really careful” and not have BBQs or bonfires.
