Image - Ruptly
Feeling the heat? And no wonder. For several days now, in many parts of Spain and Europe, the mercury has been approaching, and even exceeding, 40 degrees Celsius. It's been almost extreme heat, not only in cities and towns, but also in a natural landscape as beautiful as the Alps.
The snow that should cover its mountains is melting rapidly around the Stelvio Glacier ski resort in the Italian Alps.
With temperatures as low as 12 degrees Celsius, as recorded on Sunday, August 6, 2017, the Italian Alps are nearly devoid of snow. The Stelvio Glacier resort appears deserted , its cable cars abandoned; skiing in these conditions is not only dangerous but also extremely difficult, so it has been forced to close indefinitely. To gain a clearer understanding of the snow situation in this region, you can consult further information on the phenomenon of heat waves and their impact on mountains, especially after the recent heat wave that affected Mallorca and brought extreme temperatures to various areas.
As can be seen in the video, which was recorded by a drone equipped with a camera, what should be a white landscape has turned grayish or blackened . Snow is only present on the highest peaks, and it doesn't appear that it will be able to stay there much longer. Conditions in places like the Alps have been worsening, something that can be linked to global warming and its impact on the climate, which generates extreme events like the current heat wave.
The heatwave is proving devastating, hence its nickname: Lucifer . In Spain, 31 provinces have reached or are reaching temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher, though it's not the only country affected by this extreme phenomenon: Romania, Croatia, and Serbia are also trying to cope with what promises to be an unforgettable heatwave, as reported by ABC News . The impact of these high temperatures can be compared to other recent heatwaves in Spain , which have been equally worrying and alarming from a public health and environmental perspective, as well as to the record temperatures we've seen on other occasions.
When will it end? Soon. In a few days, temperatures will return to normal for this time of year. In Spain specifically, only Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura remain under a yellow alert, according to AEMET (the Spanish State Meteorological Agency), but more pleasant temperatures are expected as the week progresses. The duration of this heatwave has generated concern among experts, who warn of the need to be prepared for future heatwaves, as analyzed in other studies on the impact of heatwaves in various regions and how they can affect animals, as demonstrated in recent research on the impact of heat on wildlife.
