European Heat Wave Of 2003 Country by country France

An estimated 10,000, mostly elderly, people died in France from heat, according to the country's largest funeral service. Many bodies were not claimed for many weeks because relatives were on holiday. A refrigerated warehouse outside Paris was used by undertakers, because they didn't have enough space in their own facilities. On September 3, 66 bodies still left unclaimed in the Paris area were inhumated.

The opposition as well as many of the editorials of the local press have blamed the administration. Many blamed Health Minister Jean-François Mattei for not coming back from his vacations when the heat wave struck, and his aides for blocking emergency measures in public hospitals (such as the recalling of physicians).

1.2 Italy

An estimated 2,000 died in ItalyThe Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Italia is a country in the south of Europe, consisting mainly of a boot-shaped peninsula together with two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Sicily and Sardinia. To the north, where it borders France, Switzer, where temperatures varied between 38 and 40 Celsius degrees in most cities for weeks.

1.3 United Kingdom

In the UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly, the highest temperature since records began in 19111911 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January-June January 1 Northern Territory is separated from South Australia January 3 In London, a shootout between Russian anarchists and the Scots Guard January 10 Major Jimmi (38°C/ 100.4°F) was recorded at LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri's Heathrow airport on Sunday, August 10August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 143 days remaining. The term "the 10th of August" is widely used by historians as a shorthand for the Storming of the Tuileries Palace on August 10, 1792, th, 2003. This was surpassed later the same day at GravesendGravesend can refer to: Gravesend, Kent, England Gravesend, New York, USA., KentThis article is about the English county of Kent. See also Kent (disambiguation). Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. The county town is Maidstone. Kent has land borders with East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London, and a defined boundary wi, with a temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F). 907 people were estimated to have died because of the heat by 15th August.

1.4 Portugal

There were extensive forest fires in Portugal. Five per cent of the countryside and ten per cent of the forests were destroyed, an estimated 4,000 km². Eighteen people died in the fires.

1.5 Germany

In Germany, a record temperature of 40.4 Celsius was recorded at Roth, Bavaria. With only half the normal rainfall, rivers were at their lowest this century, and shipping could not navigate the Elbe or Danube.

1.6 Switzerland

Melting glaciers in the Alps caused avalanches and flash floods in Switzerland.

2 Effects on crops

Crops have suffered from drought in southern Europe, but in the north, they have actually done very well. The French wine vintage is expected to be one of the best ever.

2.1 Wheat

The following shortfalls in wheat harvests occurred as a result of the long drought.

France - 20%
Italy - 13%
United Kingdom - 12%
Ukraine - 75%
Moldova - 80%

Many other countries had shortfalls of 5-10%, and the EU total production was down by 10 million tonnes, or 10%.

2.2 Grape

The heat wave greatly accelerated the ripening of grape; also, the heat dehydrates the grapes, making for more concentrated juice. By mid-august, the grap certain vineyards had already reached its nominal sugar content , possibly resulting in 12°-12.5° wines (see alcoholic degree ). Because of that, and also of the impending change to rainy weather, the harvest was started much earlier than usual (e.g. in mid-August for areas that are normally harvested in September).

It is believed that the wines from 2003, although in scarce quantity, will have exceptional quality.

3 Causes of the Heat Wave and the deaths

The heat wave has inevitably been linked to unprecedented weather extremes in other parts of the world taking place in the same general period (such as the worst drought in recorded history in Australia during the previous Austral summer, and massive floods in the USA) and attributed to global warming.

A contributing cause to the deaths was that most European homes do not have air conditioning, simply because it was not needed before the 2003 summer.

<Hide>

Home > European Heat Wave of 2003

1 Country-by-country

1.1 France