Skip to content

In pictures: Heatwaves, drought and wildfires

11 August 2022

Temperatures across Europe have caused governments to issue health warnings.

Portugal, Spain and France have seen temperatures rise well above 40C (104F), and in the UK, the government has issued an extreme weather notice.

Experts say heatwaves and droughts are becoming more frequent and extreme because of climate change.

In south west France, more than 1,000 firefighters have been battling a massive wildfire near Bordeaux, for a third day, as blistering temperatures continue to rise.

Gironde Firebrigade/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A handout photo made available by the communication department of the Gironde Fire brigade SDIS33 shows firemen fighting a forest fire in Belin-Beliet, in the Gironde region of southwestern France, 9 August 2022 - issued 10 August 2022. — In south west France, more than 1,000 firefighters have been battling a massive wildfire near Bordeaux, for a third day, as blistering temperatures continue to rise.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as dozens of properties and large areas of forest are destroyed.

NurPhoto/Shutterstock Forest fire around the town of Hostens, France, on August 10, 2022. Many villages were evacuated, such as Saint-Magne, Mano, Belin-Beliet, Moustey and Saugnac-et-Muret, and the A63 highway were also closed. — Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as dozens of properties and large areas of forest are destroyed.

The fire in the Gironde region, is one of several major blazes burning in France.

NurPhoto/Shutterstock Forest fire around the town of Hostens, France, on August 10, 2022. — The fire in the Gironde region, is one of several major blazes burning in France.

An amber extreme heat warning has come into force in the UK, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C (99F) in some parts over the next four days. Many parks and fields have dried out following a long period of little rainfall.

Reuters Dried out ground in a park, following a long period of little rainfall and hot weather, in St Albans, England. — An amber extreme heat warning has come into force in the UK, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C (99F) in some parts over the next four days. Many parks and fields have dried out following a long period of little rainfall.

A cricket match between MK Stallions and MK Super Kings went ahead in the middle of a dried outfield in Milton Keynes, England.

Reuters A general view of a dried out grass outfield during a T20 Last Man Stands cricket match between MK Stallions (batting) and MK Super Kings cricket clubs, in Milton Keynes, Britain, 10 August 2022. — A cricket match between MK Stallions and MK Super Kings went ahead in the middle of a dried outfield in Milton Keynes, England.

Water levels have severely dropped, exposing the unseen trees and rocks at Colliford Lake, a reservoir on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England.

PA Media Dried mud and old trees at Colliford Lake, where water levels have severely dropped exposing the unseen trees and rocks on 10 August 2022. — Water levels have severely dropped, exposing the unseen trees and rocks at Colliford Lake, a reservoir on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England.

Low water levels are seen at the reservoir at Walthamstow Wetlands in London. Thames Water, which operates London's water supply, plans to introduce hosepipe ban in order to save water.

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock A water reservoir is seen with low water levels at Walthamstow Wetlands in London, Britain, 10 August 2022. — Low water levels are seen at the reservoir at Walthamstow Wetlands in London. Thames Water, which operates London's water supply, plans to introduce hosepipe ban in order to save water.

The sun rises above the London skyline. The heatwave will likely affect health, transport and working conditions.

Reuters The sun rises above the London skyline, as a second heatwave is predicted for parts of the country, in London, Britain, 11 August 2022. — The sun rises above the London skyline. The heatwave will likely affect health, transport and working conditions.

The current warning follows the driest July for England since 1935. A bare tree stands in a parched Hyde Park in London, England.

Alamy A bare tree in a parched Hyde Park on a scorching day in London, 10 August 2022 — The current warning follows the driest July for England since 1935. A bare tree stands in a parched Hyde Park in London, England.

Bottles of water are stacked on the village green following a loss of domestic water supply in the village of Northend, near Henley-on-Thames, England.

Getty Images Bottles of water are stacked on the village green following a loss of domestic water supply on 10 August 2022 in the village of Northend near Henley-on-Thames, England. — Bottles of water are stacked on the village green following a loss of domestic water supply in the village of Northend, near Henley-on-Thames, England.

Cows eat straw and grass silage which is normally a winter feed at a farm in Harpole, near Northampton, England. The cows have been on the supplementary food since the start of August due to hot, dry weather and lack of grass.

Reuters Cows eat straw and grass silage which is normally a winter feed at a farm in Harpole, near Northampton, Britain, 10 August 2022. — Cows eat straw and grass silage which is normally a winter feed at a farm in Harpole, near Northampton, England. The cows have been on the supplementary food since the start of August due to hot, dry weather and lack of grass.

Large areas of grass have turned yellow due to the dry conditions in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued a 'very high' risk of wildfires alert across southern and eastern Scotland with long, dry sunny spells expected over the coming days.

PA Media Grass turned yellow due to dry conditions in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Scotland, 10 August 2022. — Large areas of grass have turned yellow due to the dry conditions in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued a 'very high' risk of wildfires alert across southern and eastern Scotland with long, dry sunny spells expected over the coming days.

Cantref Reservoir in Nant-Ddu, in the Brecon Beacons. The area is normally one of the wettest in the UK and supplies Cardiff and large parts of South Wales with water.

Shutterstock Cantref Reservoir in in Nant-Ddu, Cwm Taf, Brecon Beacons Powys, Wales, which is owned by Welsh Water, photographed from a drone which shows how low the water level has dropped. — Cantref Reservoir in Nant-Ddu, in the Brecon Beacons. The area is normally one of the wettest in the UK and supplies Cardiff and large parts of South Wales with water.

Boats lie in the mud in the marina at Beusichem, Netherlands. The drought and low water level has caused problems in the Lek and many other rivers.

ANP / Alamy Boats are lying in the mud in the marina Beusichem, Netherlands, 10 August 2022 — Boats lie in the mud in the marina at Beusichem, Netherlands. The drought and low water level has caused problems in the Lek and many other rivers.

People walk near boat houses on the banks of the Waal River in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The ongoing drought has cut operation capacities by half along the lower Rhine from Rotterdam to Germany.

Getty Images People walk near boat houses on the banks of the Waal River on August 10, 2022 in Nijmegen, Netherlands. — People walk near boat houses on the banks of the Waal River in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The ongoing drought has cut operation capacities by half along the lower Rhine from Rotterdam to Germany.

A ship travels on the Rhine in Bonn, Germany despite low water levels. Cargo ships are currently unable to travel with full loads, driving up shipping prices.

Getty Images A cargo ship travels on the Rhine on August 10, 2022 in Bonn, Germany. — A ship travels on the Rhine in Bonn, Germany despite low water levels. Cargo ships are currently unable to travel with full loads, driving up shipping prices.

A dead fish lies on the cracked ground of La Vinuela reservoir during a severe drought in La Vinuela, near Malaga, southern Spain.

Reuters A dead fish lies on the cracked ground of La Vinuela reservoir during a severe drought in La Vinuela, near Malaga, southern Spain. — A dead fish lies on the cracked ground of La Vinuela reservoir during a severe drought in La Vinuela, near Malaga, southern Spain.

A view of the Roman camp Aquis Querquennis, located on the banks of the Limia river in the As Conchas reservoir, in Ourense, Spain. The camp is usually submerged but is exposed due to the low water level.

EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A view of the Roman camp Aquis Querquennis, located on the banks of the Limia river in the As Conchas reservoir, in Ourense, Spain, 10 August 2022. — A view of the Roman camp Aquis Querquennis, located on the banks of the Limia river in the As Conchas reservoir, in Ourense, Spain. The camp is usually submerged but is exposed due to the low water level.

Northern Italy is battling its worst drought in 70 years, with the government recently declaring a state of emergency in five regions due to a lack of rain and sweltering temperatures. The river under the Ponte di Sant'Agostino di Padova, Padua, has almost run dry.

NurPhoto/Getty Images The river under the Ponte di Sant'Agostino di Padova, Padua — Northern Italy is battling its worst drought in 70 years, with the government recently declaring a state of emergency in five regions due to a lack of rain and sweltering temperatures. The river under the Ponte di Sant'Agostino di Padova, Padua, has almost run dry.

The Magra river, which is at an all-time low, originates in Tuscany from Mount Borgognone and flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea at Bocca di Magra, in Liguria.

Anadolu Agency/Getty Images A view of the Magra river, which is at an all-time low, in Liguria. — The Magra river, which is at an all-time low, originates in Tuscany from Mount Borgognone and flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea at Bocca di Magra, in Liguria.

A tributary of the Bacchiglione di Padova, with the Specola in the background.

NurPhoto/Getty Images A tributary of the Bacchiglione di Padova, with the Specola in the background, Padua, Italy. — A tributary of the Bacchiglione di Padova, with the Specola in the background.

A water bomber helicopter is mobilised on a major forest fire that broke out near the town of Romeyer in south-east France. The fire has destroyed more than 225 hectares of forest.

NurPhoto/Getty Images A water bomber helicopter is mobilized on a major forest fire near the town of Romeyer in south-east France. — A water bomber helicopter is mobilised on a major forest fire that broke out near the town of Romeyer in south-east France. The fire has destroyed more than 225 hectares of forest.

Grapes wither on the vine in Wettolsheim, north-eastern France.

AFP Some dried grapes are pictured in Wettolsheim, north-eastern France, on 10 August 2022. — Grapes wither on the vine in Wettolsheim, north-eastern France.

France's worst drought since records began has caused crops to shrivel.

Reuters A sunflower field is seen near D'Huison-Longueville as a historical drought hits France, 8 August 2022. — France's worst drought since records began has caused crops to shrivel.

All photos subject to copyright

Europe heatwaves

Trending Now