Temperatures are forecast to rise dramatically in parts of central and northern Europe this weekend as the intense heatwave continues. In Germany and Poland, highs up to or exceeding 40C (104F) are expected on both Saturday and Sunday, days after swathes of France experienced similar extreme temperatures. The Austrian Grand Prix, taking place this weekend in Spielberg, has declared a heat hazard, the first race to do so this season. Temperatures are expected to rise into the low 30s celsius during the race, almost 10C warmer than usual for the venue.
Across Europe, the intense heat has led to severe thunderstorms. In the Sverdlovsk region of central Russia, a strong tornado was reported on the evening of 22 June. Rated a 3 out of 5 on the international Fujita scale, the twister injured 16 people and destroyed or damaged about 100 homes and businesses in the town of Kushva. Emergency services have been working on restoring power to the town. Tornadoes are not unheard of in Russia but are rare. Forecasters say they may become more common in future as the climate breaks down. Storm warnings remained in effect in the southern part of the country on Friday.
In parts of China, thunderstorms have brought extreme rainfall. The district of Zengcheng, near Guangzhou, recorded more than 100mm of rain in a three-hour period on Thursday evening, prompting warnings from the China Meteorological Administration. These storms come during south China’s Meiyu, or plum rain, season, occurring in June and July in the region, as part of the country’s wider rainy season from May to September. Such extreme rainfall in a short period of time can lead to flash flooding, mud flows and rock falls in mountainous and even urban areas.