Europe’s Fifth Heat Wave of Summer to Sear London on Thursday

Europe is bracing for its fifth heat wave of summer, with London set to experience its hottest temperatures yet on Thursday. The UK Met Office predicts temperatures could soar to 37C (98.6F) in southern England, potentially breaking records for the month of August. This is the latest in a series of extreme weather events that have strained healthcare and energy infrastructure across the continent.

An amber heat alert has been issued for central England, including London, with Annie Shuttleworth, a meteorologist from the UK Met Office, warning of potential disruptions to industry. Emergency services in London are already feeling the impact, with ambulance crews handling more calls than during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fire brigade recording their busiest ever July.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the heat as "devastating" for the environment and the climate crisis as "on our doorstep." The city's mayor has allocated £8.9 million ($12 million) in additional funding to combat wildfires, including the purchase of specialized drones and vehicles. In France, another major epicenter of Europe's heat wave, temperatures are expected to reach 40C (104F) in some regions, with Paris forecast to hit 37C.