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Europe Swelters Under a Heat Wave Called ‘Lucifer’ Europe Swelters Under a Heat Wave Called ‘Lucifer’
(35 minutes later)
The meteorologists agree: The long hot spell gripping parts of Europe this past week is uncommon.The meteorologists agree: The long hot spell gripping parts of Europe this past week is uncommon.
People looking for relief from the heat in countries like France, Spain and Italy grappled for just the right name for the phenomenon — and settled on “Lucifer.”People looking for relief from the heat in countries like France, Spain and Italy grappled for just the right name for the phenomenon — and settled on “Lucifer.”
The waves of heat sent temperatures soaring to record highs for several days, caused at least two deaths, kindled wildfires and drove tempers through the roof.The waves of heat sent temperatures soaring to record highs for several days, caused at least two deaths, kindled wildfires and drove tempers through the roof.
In France, people congregated around fountains to bask in the meager sprays, or simply dived in.In France, people congregated around fountains to bask in the meager sprays, or simply dived in.
In Romania, the police banned heavy traffic on major roads, and trains slowed to a relative crawl.In Romania, the police banned heavy traffic on major roads, and trains slowed to a relative crawl.
Animal rights groups in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, urged citizens to place bowls of water outside their buildings and in parks for stray dogs.Animal rights groups in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, urged citizens to place bowls of water outside their buildings and in parks for stray dogs.
High temperatures this summer have brought punishing heat to regions in the United States like the Pacific Northwest, reaching as high as 104 in Seattle and 107 in Portland, Ore. High temperatures this summer have brought punishing heat to regions in the United States like the Pacific Northwest — where generations had shunned air-conditioning — reaching as high as 104 in Seattle and 107 in Portland, Ore.
But here is what our correspondents across Europe reported about the heat on the Continent.But here is what our correspondents across Europe reported about the heat on the Continent.
Sun-kissed Italy has become sun-cursed. With temperatures in recent days regularly rising north of 100 degrees, a nationwide drought leaving rivers and mouths dry and countryside kindling and arsonists combining to ignite the landscape, Italians are, well, boiling.Sun-kissed Italy has become sun-cursed. With temperatures in recent days regularly rising north of 100 degrees, a nationwide drought leaving rivers and mouths dry and countryside kindling and arsonists combining to ignite the landscape, Italians are, well, boiling.
Farmers are lamenting more than $1 billion in revenue lost to drought and singed fields. Firefighters are busy. Packs of gum are melting in their wrappers.Farmers are lamenting more than $1 billion in revenue lost to drought and singed fields. Firefighters are busy. Packs of gum are melting in their wrappers.
In Rome, the heat wave has coincided with a meltdown of public services, including public transport. The city’s older residents bunch together in the narrow shade of bus stop signs waiting for buses that are late or out of service.In Rome, the heat wave has coincided with a meltdown of public services, including public transport. The city’s older residents bunch together in the narrow shade of bus stop signs waiting for buses that are late or out of service.
On trams without air-conditioning, women fanned themselves and children, slicked with sweat, across the aisle.On trams without air-conditioning, women fanned themselves and children, slicked with sweat, across the aisle.
(In Italy, air-conditioning is viewed, even by doctors in offices without air-conditioning, as a malevolent, unnatural force responsible for stiff necks, respiratory ailments and anything else not easily diagnosable. Taxi drivers refuse to put it on as a public health service.) (In Italy, air-conditioning is viewed, even by doctors in offices without air-conditioning, as a malevolent, unnatural force responsible for stiff necks, respiratory ailments and anything else not easily diagnosable. Taxi drivers refuse to turn it on as a public health service.)
In Venice, tourists are cramming with their suitcases onto the city’s water buses, their arms squeezed clammily together. Tempers are running as high as the temperatures. On a recent afternoon, a water bus driver instructed a woman to carry her suitcase to the lower deck.In Venice, tourists are cramming with their suitcases onto the city’s water buses, their arms squeezed clammily together. Tempers are running as high as the temperatures. On a recent afternoon, a water bus driver instructed a woman to carry her suitcase to the lower deck.
“I can’t,” the woman, visibly sweating, snapped. “I’m old!”“I can’t,” the woman, visibly sweating, snapped. “I’m old!”
Italians who can do it have escaped to the seaside, where they have summer houses or apartments or spots in camping ports. The beaches on the western coast of Tuscany are packed with Italians wading up to their knees and splashing their shoulders.Italians who can do it have escaped to the seaside, where they have summer houses or apartments or spots in camping ports. The beaches on the western coast of Tuscany are packed with Italians wading up to their knees and splashing their shoulders.
On Sunday afternoon, in Castiglione della Pescaia, on the coast of Maremma, the manager of a restaurant apologetically explained that the air-conditioning wasn’t working because the air was too hot to be conditioned.On Sunday afternoon, in Castiglione della Pescaia, on the coast of Maremma, the manager of a restaurant apologetically explained that the air-conditioning wasn’t working because the air was too hot to be conditioned.
JASON HOROWITZJASON HOROWITZ
In Romania, two people died from the heat last week — a 45-year-old man working in a field in the northeast party of the country and a 60-year-old man along the Black Sea coast. In Bucharest, the government warned people to stay indoors during the hottest hours.In Romania, two people died from the heat last week — a 45-year-old man working in a field in the northeast party of the country and a 60-year-old man along the Black Sea coast. In Bucharest, the government warned people to stay indoors during the hottest hours.
Trucks and heavy traffic were ordered off the main highways over the weekend. Trains had also been running slower than usual in Romania because of the heat.Trucks and heavy traffic were ordered off the main highways over the weekend. Trains had also been running slower than usual in Romania because of the heat.
But by Sunday, the hottest of the weather had pushed to the south, and only two of Romania’s southernmost counties were still under a “red alert” warning for high temperatures.But by Sunday, the hottest of the weather had pushed to the south, and only two of Romania’s southernmost counties were still under a “red alert” warning for high temperatures.
In southern Serbia, the heat got so bad that some train tracks warped and service had to be suspended.In southern Serbia, the heat got so bad that some train tracks warped and service had to be suspended.
In Slovenia, which hugs the eastern edge of the Alps, the ski resort of Vogel saw its first “tropical night” on Wednesday, marking the first time at that altitude (1,500 meters, or about 4,920 feet) that overnight temperatures failed to dip below 68 degrees.In Slovenia, which hugs the eastern edge of the Alps, the ski resort of Vogel saw its first “tropical night” on Wednesday, marking the first time at that altitude (1,500 meters, or about 4,920 feet) that overnight temperatures failed to dip below 68 degrees.
RICK LYMANRICK LYMAN
About half of Spain was placed under an emergency alert over the weekend because of the heat wave, as forecasts predicted temperatures of up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius).About half of Spain was placed under an emergency alert over the weekend because of the heat wave, as forecasts predicted temperatures of up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius).
In the southern city of Córdoba, the temperature reached almost 113 degrees on Friday afternoon. However, no major incident was reported, and the continuing high temperatures are slightly milder than that experienced in mid-July in Spain, when the temperature reached a record of almost 117 degrees in Córdoba.In the southern city of Córdoba, the temperature reached almost 113 degrees on Friday afternoon. However, no major incident was reported, and the continuing high temperatures are slightly milder than that experienced in mid-July in Spain, when the temperature reached a record of almost 117 degrees in Córdoba.
RAPHAEL MINDERRAPHAEL MINDER
The public health institute in Serbia’s capital offered residents instructions for beating the heat: The public health institute in Serbia’s capital offered residents simple instructions for beating the heat:
• Keep wet towels on the windows if you don’t have air-conditioning.• Keep wet towels on the windows if you don’t have air-conditioning.
• Avoid physical exertion.• Avoid physical exertion.
• Avoid alcohol.• Avoid alcohol.
The heat wave that hit southeastern France throughout the week increased pollution levels. The authorities also issued safety warnings on proper hydration as thousands of incoming and departing vacationers clogged roads across the region.The heat wave that hit southeastern France throughout the week increased pollution levels. The authorities also issued safety warnings on proper hydration as thousands of incoming and departing vacationers clogged roads across the region.
Corsica was hit especially hard. Nighttime offered no respite to inhabitants of Marignana, a village on the island where the temperature stayed at nearly 87 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday night into Tuesday.Corsica was hit especially hard. Nighttime offered no respite to inhabitants of Marignana, a village on the island where the temperature stayed at nearly 87 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday night into Tuesday.
On Wednesday, France’s national electricity provider announced that energy consumption on the island had reached a record high the previous night.On Wednesday, France’s national electricity provider announced that energy consumption on the island had reached a record high the previous night.
The French Riviera was not spared either, especially inland. In Puget-Théniers, a village about 25 miles northwest of Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes Department, the national weather forecaster registered a record high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday.The French Riviera was not spared either, especially inland. In Puget-Théniers, a village about 25 miles northwest of Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes Department, the national weather forecaster registered a record high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday.
In several areas of the neighboring Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Department, local authorities prohibited irrigating land, watering lawns or filling up swimming pools between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.In several areas of the neighboring Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Department, local authorities prohibited irrigating land, watering lawns or filling up swimming pools between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
In the port of Marseille, a dozen students were hired by the town hall to check in on the city’s older residents by calling them or visiting their homes, a summertime measure that was first begun in 2003 after a particularly deadly heat wave. In the port of Marseille, a dozen students were hired by the town hall to check in on the city’s older residents by calling them or visiting their homes, a summertime measure that was begun in 2003 after a particularly deadly heat wave.
On Sunday, however, the national weather forecaster lifted its heat-wave warning, as temperatures decrease across the region.On Sunday, however, the national weather forecaster lifted its heat-wave warning, as temperatures decrease across the region.
AURELIEN BREEDENAURELIEN BREEDEN
Summer means the start of a dangerous dry season for many parts of Europe. In Portugal, a raging forest fire in June killed scores of people, some whom were trapped in their cars, and forced many to flee their homes. And last month, fires forced the evacuation of over 20,000 in southern France.Summer means the start of a dangerous dry season for many parts of Europe. In Portugal, a raging forest fire in June killed scores of people, some whom were trapped in their cars, and forced many to flee their homes. And last month, fires forced the evacuation of over 20,000 in southern France.
Wildfires revisited parts of France this week, burning for days near the town of Palneca, and torching more than 400 acres of forest.Wildfires revisited parts of France this week, burning for days near the town of Palneca, and torching more than 400 acres of forest.
On Friday morning, a wildfire in the southern Greek island of Kythira, southwest of Athens, led to the evacuation of a village and power cuts.On Friday morning, a wildfire in the southern Greek island of Kythira, southwest of Athens, led to the evacuation of a village and power cuts.
It was contained but flared again on Saturday as the wind picked up, reports said. No homes have been reported damaged and there are no reports of fatalities.It was contained but flared again on Saturday as the wind picked up, reports said. No homes have been reported damaged and there are no reports of fatalities.
Temperatures were forecast to reach 108 degrees in parts of mainland Greece over the weekend.Temperatures were forecast to reach 108 degrees in parts of mainland Greece over the weekend.
Polish officials have been warning of possible infrastructure failures as the country’s electricity demand set a record for a summer morning at 23.82 gigawatts last Tuesday.Polish officials have been warning of possible infrastructure failures as the country’s electricity demand set a record for a summer morning at 23.82 gigawatts last Tuesday.
At the peak of the heat wave, employers in public administrations in several communes in the east and southeast of Poland ordered their employees to leave work two hours early.At the peak of the heat wave, employers in public administrations in several communes in the east and southeast of Poland ordered their employees to leave work two hours early.
Scorching temperatures also caused dramatic weather breakdowns, including strong storms that brought a whirlwind, as well as hail the size of tennis balls, injuring dozens of people across the country.Scorching temperatures also caused dramatic weather breakdowns, including strong storms that brought a whirlwind, as well as hail the size of tennis balls, injuring dozens of people across the country.
JOANNA BERENDTJOANNA BERENDT
Of course, there were some parts of Europe (London, anyone?) that have escaped the blistering heat.Of course, there were some parts of Europe (London, anyone?) that have escaped the blistering heat.