An intense heatwave has swept across Finland and Sweden, pushing temperatures beyond 30°C in some regions and triggering health and safety warnings.
Northern Europe is facing an unusually intense heatwave, with Finland and Sweden experiencing record-breaking temperatures and issuing widespread warnings to the public.
As of early Monday evening, Finland's Meteorological Institute (FMI) issued yellow-level alerts for "potentially dangerous temperatures" across most of the country, while Sweden's weather service issued similar warnings, particularly in the north.
In Finland, the heat alert threshold is triggered when temperatures hit 27°C or when the daily average surpasses 20°C. In Sweden, yellow alerts are declared if forecasts predict highs above 30°C for four consecutive days.
On Monday, much of Finland experienced clear skies and sweltering temperatures. The previous national summer high of 31.5°C recorded on Sunday in Kaskinen was surpassed by a new record of 31.6°C on Monday in the same city, according to the FMI.
"This week is shaping up to be the hottest of the summer so far," said FMI meteorologist Jani Sorsa to Finnish news agency STT.
Finland’s Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) issued public health warnings, urging people—especially those over the age of 75—to stay hydrated, avoid the sun, and limit physical activity during peak heat hours.
In Sweden, the Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) forecast highs ranging from 26°C to 33°C in several regions. Swedish Television meteorologist Nils Holmqvist warned the heat could lead to as many as 600 heat-related deaths under current conditions.
Heatwaves are becoming a growing concern in the Nordics, where they have historically been rare. According to THL specialist Virpi Kollanus, heat-related deaths in Finland have increased since 2000, reversing a long-term decline that began in the 1970s.
"The earlier decline likely resulted from better living standards and improved public health," Kollanus told Finnish broadcaster Yle. "Now, heatwaves are more frequent and the population is aging."
The FMI said two-week heatwaves are still uncommon, typically occurring once every decade. Only six three-week heatwaves have been recorded since 1961, with the most recent in 2021.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continui...
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It com...
Iran says it is progressing with the reconstruction of civilian areas, including residential and industrial units, that were bombed in Israeli-U.S....
The Saudi-led coalition said early Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It comes after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people last week.
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions with Washington over energy strikes and U.S. military support.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continuing from Russia and Ukraine as media reports say Ukraine has almost run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
Students, lecturers and university staff marched on Argentina’s Congress in Buenos Aires on Thursday to demand President Javier Milei’s government implement a university funding law which would boost staff salaries and increase financial support to institutions to cover operating costs
A 16-year-old shooter opened fire on Thursday at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon in the United States, killing four people, including three children, before being killed by an armed member of the community who had pursued the assailant into the school, police said.
France is preparing for a fresh wave of nationwide demonstrations this weekend as rising living costs, education concerns and growing political tensions converge into one of the most significant protest movements seen in the country in recent years.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has called for closer cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States, arguing that the transatlantic partnership remains essential to addressing modern security challenges and maintaining stability across Europe.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment