A series of maps depicting the terrible heat waves in the US and Europe

A historic heatwave is scorching Western Europe, killing hundreds in Spain and Portugal.

Temperatures spiked to 46 degrees Celsius on the Iberian peninsula in arid conditions, sparking wildfires and forcing thousands of people to evacuate in France.

The thermometer peaked at 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in the UK on July 18 and is expected to rise higher on July 19. For the first time, the UK Meteorological Agency has issued a 'red warning' for heat, the highest level, lasting until July 19, in Birmingham, Oxford, Nottingham and London.

The temperature difference compared to normal at the beginning of July 19 (international time).

Wales recorded a record temperature on September 18, and England could see temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius on July 19 (local time).

At the same time, across the United States was also being swept by a heat wave, causing the temperature in Salt Lake City to reach a record on July 17. Heat in Texas and Oklahoma is expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius on July 19.

These heatwaves are thought to be part of an increasing frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Human activities are believed to be pushing heat, which has been high for many years, to record levels, according to the Washington Post.

Here are some weather maps illustrating extreme heat in Europe and the US, and their historical nature.

It's 20 degrees Celsius hotter than usual in the UK

Photo: WeatherBell/British Meteorological Agency.

The average temperature on a mid-July afternoon in the UK is around 20 degrees Celsius, but the country has recorded a temperature of up to 38 degrees Celsius and is expected to increase.

The maximum temperature predicted in the UK through the end of July 19 could reach 40 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record of 38.7 degrees Celsius in Cambridge on July 25, 2019.

In 2020, the UK Meteorological Agency released a forecast that such temperatures would become commonplace by 2050 due to climate change.

Nikos Christidis, a climate scientist with the British Meteorological Service, said: "The likelihood of temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius anywhere in the UK during the year is increasing rapidly. Even with oranges According to current results of emissions reductions, such extreme events could occur every 15 years in the 21st century.

The highest average temperature ever

The map below depicts the heat according to the European weather model from July 8 to July 16. The map shows the temperature variation at high altitudes with an atmospheric pressure of 850 millibars, which is more than 1 km above the ground.

Areas in crimson indicate "highest recorded". In other words, this weather model has never recorded such high temperatures at the same time in a year.

Graphics: PolarWX.com.

One of the UK's deadliest heatwaves occurred 46 years ago. Although not as long as the 1976 heat wave with 15 consecutive days with temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius, this year's heat wave is forecast to be more intense. The maximum temperature during the 1976 heat wave was 35.9 degrees Celsius, while that number this year is forecast to be 40 degrees Celsius.

This is not surprising considering the extent of climate warming since the 1970s. The average temperature in the UK has risen by more than 0.5 degrees Celsius since the mid-1970s, according to the association. Royal.

Photo: @ScottDuncanWX

The map from CoolWX.com below captures the real-time observation from weather stations in Western Europe and compares it with historical data. The time of recording is from about 2pm on July 18 (UK time). Each red dot marks a city that broke the daily heat record. The purple dot represents a weather station that is having or breaking record monthly temperatures. Black circles with an 'x' inside indicate the area that reached or exceeded all-time high temperatures.

Several black circles can be seen in southeastern parts of England.

On July 18, the temperature in Wales rose to 37.1 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded. The 33 degrees Celsius figure in Dublin marks Ireland's highest air temperature of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Photo: CoolWX.com.

A series of records in the US

Temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius or higher are rare across the United States, from the southernmost border with Mexico to the northern border with Canada.

However, the heat on July 18 reached above levels. The southern plains are even forecast to see higher temperatures on July 19.

About 40 million people in 48 states are on heat warnings.

The highest temperature of up to 42.8 degrees Celsius is predicted in the Dakota region on July 18, and on March 19, a record of 44.4 degrees Celsius is expected in Wichita Falls, Texas. Temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius will continue at least through the end of this week.

Many records have been recorded throughout the United States. On July 17, the heat in Salt Lake City climbed to 41.7 degrees Celsius, the all-time high in this city. The city of Dodge hit 42.8 degrees Celsius over the weekend of July 16-17, the highest temperature ever observed in all of July. Even more northerly regions like Glasgow, the heat has reached 42.2 degrees Celsius on July 18.