Mercury soars across Europe
Europe baked today in scorching summer temperatures, as authorities warned of the danger to the very young and old and linked the heatwave to a number of deaths.
In Spain, officials said three people had died as a result of the weather including a 24-year-old man.
Warm weather alerts were in place in seven regions of central and southern Spain with temperatures of up to 39 degrees Celsius, said the national meteorological agency Aemet. Temperatures were expected to start to drop tomorrow and on Monday.
The heat eased slightly in Paris today, but although an orange alert was lifted for the capital and three other departments nationwide, they would stay in place overnight for four others in central and eastern France, said the French national meteorological service, Meteo France.
The heatwave in those areas was also expected to be over by early tomorrow.
"The spell of high temperatures that started on Thursday is coming to its end," Meteo France said in a bulletin.
Britain's highest temperature of the year -- 31.7 degrees Celsius (89.1 degrees Fahrenheit) -- was recorded at Gravesend in southeastern England yesterday.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the daytime heat and the fact that temperatures remained high at night -- around 20 degrees Celsius -- posed health risks to the elderly and very young children.
The agency also said there had been "several hundred" more deaths than normal over the past two weeks and some appeared to be linked to the heat.
"Although these are very preliminary data, their experts suggest that the hot weather may have been the cause for some of the increase," an HPA spokesman said.
The Met Office's heat warning stood at level two on its four level warning scale. Britain has experienced the driest first six months of the year since 1953.
However, the dryness did not extend across Britain. Heavy rain fell on northern England and Scotland yesterday and today
The temperature in Malta was 26 degrees Celcius with a humidity level of 66 per cent, according to the Meteorological Office.
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Joseph Ellul - Sydney
Jul 12th 2010, 02:27
I used to visit Malta every 2 years on a regular bases. It noticed that Malta has alternate hot and not so hot summers. This goes also for winters: cold and mild. Last summer was hot and this summer might be mild.
I hope you have a good time anyway. Wish I was there.
S. King
Jul 12th 2010, 02:08
I'm from Gravesend (hottest place in the UK almost every year), and 31'c in UK doesn't feel as hot as 31'c in Malta, but the intensity of the sun is much higher in Malta than the UK.
Problem with British though, is we moan when it's too cold and we moan when it's too hot. Never happy!
The past 3-4 years our summers have consisted of about 4 nice weeks of weather in May, the rest being wet and humid. It makes a nice change this year, to actually have several weeks of nice weather in June/July too! We deserve it after the extreme winter we had.
I'd still rather be in Malta for summer though!
O Farrugia
Jul 12th 2010, 00:54
What one should bring across is that high humidity levels are equally deadly! It is not just a question of high temperatures and heat. We in Malta do suffer from very high humidity levels, and it is also because we are small and surrounded by sea.
When humidity levels are high, from +70%, the body slows down perspiration, thus it wont cool down and keeps all the toxins entrapped. It makes you feel breathless or even nauseated. One must drink water more than normal to keep the body's hydration at a safe level!
Now when this is combined with tropical heat, imagine what the body goes through - trying to perspire but the skin blocks off. The internal body temperature needs to remain at 37 degrees, thus cooler than it is outside. With cool airconditioned temperatures, one perspires less but the mechanism still absorbs the body moisture (even from the eyes) and over-exposure may still dehydrate you.
GiovDeMartino
Jul 11th 2010, 18:48
Whether bec of our insignificant size; or bec of our position, or bec we are the chosen few...the fact remains that there is no place like Malta! No earhquakes, no storms, no tornadoes, no monsoons, no kidnapping, no this and no that YES, ONLY in malta can you live so peacefully. And I thank God for that. Or am I not allowed to do that lest
I would offend someone?
Jack Sparrow
Jul 12th 2010, 21:30
Not to spoil your fun, but in most places on Earth there are no earthquakes, tornadoes, monsoons, and kidnapping. Again, you seem to extrapolate the exception as a general rule, rather naively I must add.
As for storms, I beg you pardon. In Malta I've seen some of the most disastrous storms in Europe, with houses built in valleys being flooded with water, and cars being washed away by rain water.
I really cannot understand this artificial and unrealistic sense of patriotism, as if Malta is the best place to live in. It's got its nice aspects, true, but all in all it is a fairly dry place with no natural resources, very small and crowded places and an economy that is undeveloped by Western standards.
Personally, I would prefer Cyprus, which is approx. 50 times the size of Malta with only 3 times as much the population; it has mountains and it has huge and clean beaches. It has lower taxes (15% VAT, 10% corporate, 30% max personal) and a more developed economy. Plus property is cheaper than in Malta, and an amazing lifestyle. All the advantages you find in Malta without any of the disadvantages.
chris grillo
Jul 11th 2010, 07:06
Ma jidhirx li qed ikun xi sajf iebes ghalissa...naraw naqra xi xahar iehor... kieku jkollu jibqa hekk ikun tajjeb.
Ma tantx inhobba s-shana...20 kuljum ikun idejali!
N. Bonello
Jul 11th 2010, 01:06
The story says 'The temperature in Malta was 26 degrees Celcius with a humidity level of 66 per cent, according to the Meteorological Office.'
Could 26 degrees in Malta be right ! It sure didn't feel as low as 26 degrees.
Alfred Baldacchino
Jul 10th 2010, 21:39
Ahna gzira zghira maqtughin ghalina f'nofs ta' bahar. Ghal din ir-raguni l-estremi tat-temperatura, u ta' maltemp iehor, ftit li xejn li jolqtuna.
Anthony Borg
Jul 10th 2010, 21:04
And why should we be favourites....
edward bartolo
Jul 10th 2010, 22:09
We are not favourites because that is nature. Although extremely complex, the weather can be studied and rules can also be deduced; there is nothing supernatural whatsoever.
A. Borg
Jul 11th 2010, 05:44
Probably we're the chosen few!
aborg
Jul 11th 2010, 08:44
Spot on!! You are right Mr Borg!!!
@ Seychell & DeMartino
Your comments show your thought projection!!! God does not discriminate!!!!!!!! Grow up!
GiovDeMartino
Jul 10th 2010, 20:00
Jien dejjem hekk ghedt u dejjem hekk nghid. Il-Bambin xerred fuqna il-grazzji mollha Tieghu. F'kull sens! Araw l-ahbarijiet ta' barra u kellmuni! Only in Malta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack Sparrow
Jul 10th 2010, 21:34
Nothing much happens in Malta because it is insignificantly small, not because the Bambin has any particular preference towards it. I thought you would have worked that one out.
Michael Seychell
Jul 10th 2010, 19:43
We are a Blessed Country - Thankyou God Almighty.
Michael Seychell.
Tal-Pieta
Thomas Grima
Jul 12th 2010, 12:21
Allura skond int ahna mberkien fkull aspett tal hajja. Minghajr ma nispjega kullhadd jaf ghalxiex qed tirreferi. Imma ejja nibqaw mas suggett. Imberkien biex? Ghax it temperatura hawn ma qabzitx it 30 deg bhall kumplament ta l ewropa? Allura meta hawn tkun 33, 34 jew izjed (bhall ma ha tkun min nhar il hamis il quddiem) u l kumplament tal ewropa jkollhom temperatura ta 25, 26 umbghad hekk xnigu? Mishutin min alla?