Weather tracker: Why Europe’s wildfires are proving so fierce and difficult to stop
Summary
A mix of a wet winter, very little rain since spring, and several record heatwaves has made wildfires in France and Spain start easily and spread quickly. These fires are hard to control because dry plants and strong winds help the flames grow and move unpredictably. Meanwhile, heavy rain and melting glaciers in parts of South Asia have caused deadly floods.Key Facts
- Wildfires in France and Spain have been fueled by dry plants caused by drought and heatwaves.
- About 90% of wildfires start because of human activity, often in dry grass, pine needles, and small twigs.
- Fires can grow into larger plants and roots that burn longer and can create strong winds.
- Changing wind directions made some fires in France spread in unexpected ways.
- Storms brought little rain to the affected areas, sometimes making fires worse by creating strong gusts of wind.
- Europe is expected to face more heatwaves and dry weather, increasing wildfire risks in August.
- Heavy rain and melting glaciers have caused flooding and landslides in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, killing at least 180 people.
- Some regions received up to 250mm of rain in one day, nearly half of London’s yearly average rainfall.
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