2023-08-26 03:16:51
It had never been so hot in Milan. The economic capital of Italy recorded its hottest day in 260 years on August 23, the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) announced on Friday.
The Milan Brera meteorological station recorded an average temperature of 33°C, the highest figure reached since records began in 1763. In fact, 40°C was exceeded in several towns in Lombardy and night temperatures are remained very high. The previous record dates back to the summer of 2003 when the mercury reached an average of 32.8°C during the day. Milan also recorded its highest 24-hour minimum temperature on Thursday, at 28.9 ° C, according to ARPA.
Heat stroke in the Alps
The Italian side of the Alps was also hit by “intense and abnormal” temperatures, added ARPA, while specifying that the current heat wave was coming to an end, with heavy rains expected in the coming days. The 0°C isotherm, which indicates the altitude at which the temperature reaches 0°C and therefore from which the snowpack is likely to melt, exceeded 5,000 m at several places in the Alps this week.
The heat wave that rages over part of Western Europe has seen many records broken, including in France. In Italy, the heat wave that started in mid-August should be coming to an end. Violent thunderstorms will be accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures of 10 to 15°C at the start of next week.
Greenhouse gas emissions are fueling longer and more intense heat waves, particularly in Europe, which according to the World Meteorological Organization is the fastest warming continent. Every year hundreds of thousands of people die from causes related to excessive heat. High night temperatures, like in Milan this week, are particularly dangerous for health. The human body fails to recover from the heat experienced during the day.
#Heat #wave #Milan #hottest #day #years