High fire risk in many parts of Sweden in the wake of the heat wave

Tropical heat awaits in Sweden - elderly, children under five, pregnant women, and the chronically ill most vulnerable

Tropical heat awaits in Sweden - elderly, children under five, pregnant women, and the chronically ill most vulnerable

The cost of heat: Why Europe’s economy is melting

Extreme heat has become a structural economic risk for Europe, disrupting industry, transport, energy and household budgets Read Full Article at RT.com

Where will Europe’s heatwave be most deadly?

We analyse 854 cities to see which will be worst affected

'Unprecedented Tragedy': 12 Dead In Devastating Spain Wildfire

Early summer heatwaves across western Europe in May and June have parched vast areas of land, making them particularly vulnerable to wildfires.

Europe's record-breaking heatwave: What you need to know

Europe is sweltering through its most severe heatwave on record, with temperatures shattering all-time highs across the continent and the heat now shifting east towards the Balkans and Ukraine. The heatwave is being sustained by what meteorologists call an omega block -- a weather pattern named for the Greek letter because of the shape it creates in the atmosphere. Hot, dry air from North Africa becomes trapped over a region as low-pressure systems on either side prevent it from moving away. The result is that temperatures have been pushed up to 18°C above their seasonal average. Europe is particularly exposed: only about 20 of European homes have air conditioning, and much of the continent's housing stock was built to retain heat rather than shed it.