Another Day of Extreme Heat Bakes Europe, but Relief Is on the Horizon

Much of Europe was roasting on Friday in a dangerous, long-lasting heat wave — the fifth one on the continent this year — with the authorities in several countries warning of the serious risk of wildfires.

The scorching weather has strained infrastructure and severely disrupted everyday life and public services in several countries. More than 100 firefighters were deployed on Thursday to try and control a blaze that burned at least six properties in the West Midlands region of Britain, the local fire service said.

The heat, which has been linked to climate change, is driven by an area of high pressure that is colloquially known as a heat dome. This weather feature has been focused over the western part of the continent and is expected to shift east into Central Europe in the coming days, expanding into the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland.

Temperatures are forecast to slowly increase in Central Europe through the weekend and decrease to the west, as cooler Atlantic air and thunderstorms whip in from the west. It will still be hot in Spain and France, but the temperatures will not be quite as extreme as they have been.

The fire risk remains high across parts of Europe

The heat has intensified the ongoing severe threat of wildfires across Europe. Fires have burned more than 1.4 million acres across the European Union so far this year. It’s smaller than the area that burned by this time last year, the worst year on record, but double the 20 year average of scorched land.

The European Forest Fire Information System said that a large area of Central Europe, stretching from Germany through Poland and into the Balkans, as well as parts of Britain, Ireland, France and Sweden, would remain under “very extreme” fire conditions at least through next week.

Here’s how to cool off.

Staying cool and hydrating often are the two most important things to do to avoid feeling sick and discomfort in extreme heat. Here are some other ways to keep cool:

• Block out the windows in your home — especially those that get afternoon sun — with a blanket or a darker sheet during the day to keep the heat out. At night, keep windows open and run fans to circulate the air.

• Spritz your skin with a mist of cool or room-temperature water or wipe your forehead with a cool cloth. Cold showers can also help you cool down.

• If you need to be outdoors, put ice cubes in your water bottle and drink cool liquids. If you plan to exercise, douse your head in cold water. Swimming is also a great way to exercise and keep cool.

• When exploring or sightseeing, seek out cooler attractions such as museums, cathedrals or even subterranean exhibitions. Some cities have created public spaces to cool down: Barcelona has climate shelters and Paris has drinking fountains, for example. London has a Cool Spaces map to find spots.

• Watch out for signs of heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists some of them as dizziness, a rapid pulse, nausea, headache and fainting. But symptoms can vary.