Drought Grips UK, Fires Rage Across Southern Europe

England and Wales experienced their driest July in nearly 200 years, marked by a prolonged heat wave and a lack of rainfall, according to provisional statistics from the U.K.'s weather service. These conditions have led to official drought declarations across much of England and all of Wales. Meanwhile, southern Europe continued to grapple with intense heat and widespread wildfires.

In Greece, water-dropping planes tackled a major wildfire near Athens. Firefighting efforts were hampered by strong winds over the weekend, but conditions improved Monday as winds eased. The blaze, blamed on a faulty power line, led to arrests. Tragically, two crew members died in a midair helicopter collision while fighting fires.

France saw its largest wildfire on record contained, burning approximately 420 square kilometers. Thousands of evacuees were permitted to return home. However, a second wildfire in Provence remained uncontained. The risk of wildfire remains high across parts of Europe through August 5.

Europe is warming at more than twice the global average. This rapid heating, combined with prolonged drought, makes vegetation more combustible, fueling more intense and faster-spreading fires across the continent.