Europe heatwave sparks wildfires, record temperatures

Austria set a national temperature record on Wednesday, wildfires burned in Greece and Albania, and Italy placed all major cities under red alert as a heatwave tightened its grip across Europe. Austria’s weather service recorded 40.6 degrees Celsius in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, near the Slovak and Hungarian borders, according to AP and ABC. Hungary asked households to curb electricity use, Moldova urged residents to conserve water, and low river levels added to concern over shipping and power generation across Central Europe. The Vatican also moved Pope Leo’s weekly general audience indoors on August 5 because of the heat. ### Where did the heat hit hardest first? Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, east of Vienna, reached 40.6C on August 5, setting a national record for Austria, AP reported. Italy responded on August 6 by placing all of its major cities under the highest heat alert as temperatures climbed across the peninsula. Rome was among the cities under the highest warning level, and the Irish Examiner reported that the heat prompted the Vatican to shift Pope Leo’s first weekly audience after the July break from St. Peter’s Square into St. Peter’s Basilica. Vatican News separately said the audience resumed on August 5 inside the basilica after the summer pause. ### Which fires were still burning? (apnews.com) Albanian firefighters were battling blazes near Mallakaster and other southern areas on August 5, Reuters reported, while ABC said wildfires were also active in Greece as the heat and drought moved eastward. AP said fires were also burning in France as the heatwave spread across southern and central Europe. (irishexaminer.com) Greece had already faced deadly fire conditions earlier in the week, and NPR reported that the broader heat spell was feeding drought and wildfire risk across the region. The latest flare-ups came as several countries remained on alert for more extreme temperatures. ### Why are rivers and power systems part of this story? (usnews.com) The Danube and Rhine fell to unusually low levels this week, disrupting freight and raising pressure on power systems that rely on river water. CNBC reported on August 5 that drought was already hitting energy generation, freight and river transport across Europe. Romania used a controlled explosion in the Danube to redirect cooling water to its sole operating nuclear plant, according to NPR, and EFE reported earlier this week that nuclear facilities in Romania and Hungary were operating at minimum capacity because of low water levels. (kunc.org) Those constraints have turned the heatwave into a transport and infrastructure story as well as a weather emergency. (cnbc.com) ### Which sectors are already seeing disruption? Ynet reported that the heat crisis was affecting shipping, energy, farming and tourism as drought and wildfire losses mounted across Central Europe. Cruise Trade News, cited in the source briefing, said Riviera Travel created an incident task force and a travel-updates hub as low water levels continued to disrupt European river itineraries. (kanw.org) London was also facing transport strain. The Independent reported that more than 1,500 bus drivers planned 26 days of strikes over hot-weather working conditions, adding another layer of disruption for summer travelers already dealing with heat alerts and wildfire zones, according to the source briefing. ### Where is the heat moving next? ABC reported on August 6 that the center of the heatwave was shifting east, with Moldova expected to reach 38C later that day. (cnbc.com) Hungary had already asked residents to limit electricity use, and Moldovan authorities were telling people to conserve water as the system moved across southeastern Europe. Thursday’s next markers were clear: temperatures in Moldova, continued firefighting in Albania and Greece, and the persistence of red alerts in Italy. River levels on the Rhine and Danube will also remain a closely watched measure for freight operators, utilities and travel companies in the coming days. (apnews.com) (abc.net.au)