Just as much of the US sees a little relief from late June’s brutal heat dome, Europe is baking under a dome of its own. A number of countries are seeing record high temps, wildfire threats, and extreme heat emergencies. A heat dome is an area of high pressure that traps hot, humid air in place. They can often last for a week or more. France has been hard hit. It has closed more than 200 schools. Leaders have also issued heat alerts in 84 of its 96 regions. Italy, Portugal, and Germany put out similar warnings. And Turkish leaders closed the airport in Izmir. They also evacuated four villages that are close to heat-fueled wildfires. “Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,” António Guterres wrote on social media. He's the secretary-general of the United Nations. Weather experts in Paris warned people to stay indoors. Temps there are forecast to linger near 37° Celsius (100° Fahrenheit) through Wednesday. “Everyone is in danger, even those in good health,” France’s official weather service wrote in an alert. “Watch for dehydration and heat stroke, especially in athletes and people working outside. Pay attention to children. Heat stroke symptoms are: a fever above 40° (104°F), hot, red and dry skin, headaches, nausea, drowsiness, intense thirst, confusion, convulsions, and loss of consciousness.” Rain is forecast for some regions near the end of the week. But for the next few days, the heat is expected to get worse. Many regions could break heat records. Over the weekend, both Spain and Portugal logged their highest-ever June temps. Reflect: What’s one kind of extreme weather you’ve experienced, and how did it affect your day or your plans?
