A homeless man begs for money in a street of Bordeaux, southwestern France on August 24, 2023, as a heatwave sweeps across France.
In a report on Europe's climate, Copernicus and the WMO noted last year's extreme conditions, including a July heatwave which pushed 41% of southern Europe into strong, very strong or extreme heat stress - the biggest area of Europe under such conditions in any day on record.
Extreme heat poses particular health risks to outdoor workers, the elderly, and people with existing conditions like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Heat stress measures the impact that the environment has on the human body, combining factors like temperature, humidity and the body's response, to establish a "feels like" temperature.
Parts of Spain, France, Italy and Greece experienced up to ten days of extreme heat stress in 2023, defined as a "feels like" temperature of more than 46 degrees Celsius, at which point immediate action must be taken to avoid heat stroke and other health issues.
Persons:
Copernicus
Organizations:
World Meteorological Organization, WMO
Locations:
Bordeaux, France, Europe, Italy, Lodi, Spain, Greece