European heatwave fuels forest fires

The second heatwave of the summer is pushing temperatures over 40 ̊C across Europe, fuelling wildfires from Portugal to Turkiye


FIRE DANGER FORECAST		Active fires	

Portugal: 96% in extreme or severe drought

Italy: Fires “three times worse than average”

Türkiye: 2021 fires worst on record


EFFECT OF CHANGES IN JET STREAM

Single jet stream: Linked to heat extremes over Mediterranean

Weak winds, anomalously warm surface temperatures

Single high-altitude air current


Double jet stream

Double jet linked to heat extremes over western Europe and Baltic

Frequency of heatwaves increasing in Europe due to jet stream splitting in two for longer periods


Source: European Forest Fire Information System, Nature 
© GRAPHIC NEWS