We know it is a hot summer in Ireland when the national airwaves start debating the merits and best places to buy a 99 ice cream. Whatever the origins of the name, the number 99 could equally refer to the temperature in Fahrenheit that much of Europe has been experiencing this week. 99 degrees Fahrenheit corresponds to just over 37 Celsius, a value almost reached in the UK, which broke its all-time record temperature for June which has stood for more than half a century. Similarly values of more than 44 degrees experienced in France produced its hottest day and hottest night since records began.

Such long-term records are normally broken by a small fraction of a degree. The extensive shattering of them is indicative of a climate supercharged by human interference with the atmosphere. The latest studies indicate that we are now experiencing a “topping up” on heatwave temperatures of between two and four degrees.

In Ireland we have now experienced two hot spells with temperatures of about 30 degrees during the last four weeks. On Thursday, the temperature in Athenry, Co Galway reached 32.1 degrees, nudging ever closer to the national record of 33.3 degrees, which has stood since 1887. As land and ocean warm in the world’s fastest-warming continent, the era of summers frequently in excess of 30 degrees must be accepted as imminent – and plans to adapt to this must be considered urgent.

What is causing this week’s intense heat over Europe?

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‘I might........

© The Irish Times