40C - 49C forecast for Europe next week - that is ridiculously hot

[cakeorwine]

‘I’ve never seen heat this bad. It’s not normal’: Italy struggles as temperature tops 40C | Italy | The Guardian

It's scary to think of these temperatures - not at all good for the human body.

I hope people who are going abroad over summer are prepared - or at least aware of how to stay safe in such heat.

Air con, heating....all things that are useful for ensuring comfort in cold and hot weather, but also things that do contribute to global warming.

Hopefully we can look at a way of using less fuels that contribute to global warming and find ways of adapting our lives and environment as the climate changes.

I heard something interesting about a white paint developed by scientists, said to cool buildings and the surrounding temps. Not sure it's available yet, but sounds promising. We really need to radically change lifestyles and throw a lot of investment into green, alternative technologies and solutions. It's insane how we just carry on destroying our only home.

the point is, the response to appalling conditions caused by global warming is a remedy that contributes to global warming.

How is that going to work out for the human race? And fans use energy too

I live in Puglia. I'm not there at the minute, but dp says it's been 40+ for about a week. We don't have aircon.

It sounds trite, but you do get used to it. I've only spent the COVID summers there as I work in the UK in July and most of August but 2020 and 2021 weren't as bad as I had imagined.

You learn how to deal with it when it's constant I think. Get up very early, most people are up and about in summer by 6/6.30. Do the grocery shopping at 8 as soon as everything's open. Eat differently. Go out much later at night. Had staff meal a fortnight ago and the booking was for 10.30pm.

Central heating is not just useful , it’s essential for older or ill people. It’s a necessary evil.

We’re currently on holiday in the southern Med and the temperature has been 40+ degrees for the past 5 days. We are beginning to acclimatise, we stay out of the sun between 12noon and 3pm and make good use of the hotel pool!

This too.

I am in Italy at the moment and it’s been 30 degrees today, going up to 34/35 next week. Hot but within expected norms.

When you check the forecast for next week across Italy - not the news reports - it’s similar across the country. We’re off to Malaga next week and similarly the predicted temps there range between 30-34.

There seems to be a gap between the normal weather forecast and the headlines which present a much more extreme picture.

• Refillable water bottle
• Mini rechargeable fan for handbag
• Cooling Dynamint roll on
• Cooling mint spray for face

i have just looked at UK long range weather and it might get a bit dryer and warmer mid August but little indication of strong heat.

My fear is that we may end up the same way.

You can do this with (pretty much) any colour. You reflect back the infrared rays of the sun rather than absorb them.
Black is a nightmare. Grey is tricky. But if you go light enough, you can make a massive difference.
You can also add materials that will reflect back IR into e.g. plastic greenhouse sheeting to help keep plants cool.

😰

Too late.
Any thing any single person hopes to achieve to negate their impact on climate change is being annihilated every single day by the Cruise missiles and artillery and missiles and mines currently being used and manufactured, and then used due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Absolutely.

We just need to work on ways of producing the energy to heat / cool our homes without generating as much CO2 as possible.

And look at the design of our cities, homes etc as the climate changes.

I worry more for my children and the future they face. They are mid to late teens but I wonder why anyone is having babies now when they will have a life under climate change with extreme temperatures, water and food shortages and potential unrest.

Actually Uk will probably get slightly cooler and wetter longer term due to disruption of the Gulf Stream. There will still be greater variability though.

I’d booked a family holiday in Sardinia for next week.
I’m just not going if it’s going to be 40 degrees plus. Saved all year for it too. I don’t want to spend our days in an air conditioned room/ shopping centre. Would rather stay at home. Money lost but it sounds miserable. What’s the point in going?

You have to look at the lows as well as highs. If it's 45 in the day and 35 at night you will get massively more deaths than 45 in the day and 18 at night. Any opportunity to cool off for a couple of hours reduces fatalities.

Fans don't work over 43 degrees so don't use them.

@CatsOnTheChair Yes, I found a little quote about it this particular paint: 'This white colour reflects 98.1% of solar light and also emits infrared heat, which can cool the air around buildings. It absorbs less heat than the heat emitted from the sun. This can reduce the use of air conditioners. Commercial white generally reflects only 80 to 90 per cent of sunlight.'
Changing lifestyles is most important, but investing in alternatives and solutions will help us to survive the inevitable changes, which we can't stop now.

Seriously, @labsgalore where the hell is is below 0°C in the UK today?

@user9630721458 I know. My name is on the patent 😁

I've been enjoying our summer this week - sunny with a side of cold rain and wind. I hope this is a sign of summers to come, but I suspect not and feel we are likely to follow the rest of Europe.

My thoughts are with anyone suffering in the heat.

Well you have paid for it so even if it meant I got up early and then stayed in the afternoon and napped and then headed out, I would still go

What we actually need is a massive programme of home insulation. But when Insulate Britain point this out, everyone takes the piss.