(Way OT) How bad is the heat wave in Europe?

[Dakkareth]

Yup. No air-conditioning, as usually it doesn't get that hot here.

Today it was about 34°C here in Germany/Ruhrgebiet (~93°F) and probably hotter in other places.

It wasn't too bad for me, as I usually open the windows at night so that cool air comes in and don't come outside during the day .

Still ... there is an above average number of fires, etc and problems with plants ...

I'd rather have it a little cooler

 

[KnowTheToe]

Global warming might be bad for you, but here in Chicago, our summers are cooler and our winters warmer. I think I am going to go out now and burn my garbage

It is awefully cool in here, I better go turn the air conditioning down.

Man, I kill myself. (I am in no way an average representation of Americans. Please do not hold my my comments against my fellow citizens)

 

[S'mon]

Yup. No air-conditioning, as usually it doesn't get that hot here.

Today it was about 34°C here in Germany/Ruhrgebiet (~93°F) and probably hotter in other places.

It wasn't too bad for me, as I usually open the windows at night so that cool air comes in and don't come outside during the day .

Temperature last night stayed hot enough I got almost no sleep - had the windows wide open & fan on, but the air temperature stayed around 30C - the air from the fan felt warm, first time I've experienced that.

I've been hotter - in Mississippi in July. I've been in Albuquerque when it was technically hotter, but with the low desert humidity it felt quite pleasant.

 

[WayneLigon]

The worst thing is the air conditioning problem. Those of you in the US and other hot areas have air conditioning as standard. We don't have it here in the UK - why would we? It's never hot enough to warrant it. So there's nowhere to escape the heat - I'm in my living room, and I feel like I'm in a furnace. I've had 3 cold showers today.

Also, bear in mind that we're just not acclimatised to the heat. I imagine it's easier to bear when you're used to it. We're acclimatised to cool weather and rain.

I live in Montgomery, Alabama, which is in the southern central portion of the US South. Our averages (hi temp/lo temp) over the year are:

JAN 56/36
FEB 61/39
MAR 69/46
MAY 83/61
JUN 89/68
JUL 91/71
AUG 90/71
SEP 87/66
OCT 78/53
NOV 69/45
DEC 60/39

Then you can usually add in the heat index; it's 83% humidity here now, making the 83 degrees outside feel like 90 deg.

We're not used to the heat, either; AC is standard everywhere.

At least this year, we've had rain. Generally by this time, I've had to water my lawn a great deal to keep the soft soil from cracking and breaking my foundation. So far not, this year. We've had rain at least two or three times a week.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I'm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's been hitting over 95 pretty much every day for a month or two now. Of course, that's with zero humidity. I wish it would rain. My garden's dying 'cause I can't afford to water it as much as it needs. Especially the lawn. What with the drought and all, they have overwatering fines built right into your water bill. Go over a certain level and ZAP They triple your bill!

You should feel it when you get in your car after it's been baking in the 100°+ sun all day. It gets absurdly hot. Burn your hands on the steering wheel hot (like actually burn). At least, without the humidity, things don't get all sticky.

Er, I know bad jokes are frowned upon, but it's gotta be said: FRENCH FRIES!

 

[AGGEMAM]

Er, I know bad jokes are frowned upon, but it's gotta be said: FRENCH FRIES!

But that on the other hand is pretty good actually.

 

[PatrickLawinger]

Well, when I clicked on this thread I was expecting things like:
"It's soooo hot that ..."

The worst thing is the air conditioning problem. Those of you in the US and other hot areas have air conditioning as standard. We don't have it here in the UK - why would we? It's never hot enough to warrant it. So there's nowhere to escape the heat - I'm in my living room, and I feel like I'm in a furnace. I've had 3 cold showers today.

Also, bear in mind that we're just not acclimatised to the heat. I imagine it's easier to bear when you're used to it. We're acclimatised to cool weather and rain.

In most of the southern US people do have air conditioning. If not, definitely fans.

The wet towel idea in the window is a good one, if your humidity is low enough. Combine that with fans creating air circulation through your home/apartment and you should be okay.

 

[Cecil]

Germany is going through the hottest summer in 73 years. That is, both the most consecutive days over 100 as well as the highest average heat.

The true problem is that these guys don't know how to create an effective air conditioner.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I work in London (UK) and live a little north of there.

The sunshine is lovely and warm, but the humidity is making everything sticky and uncomfortable. Unlike Morrus I have the luxury of working in a building with air conditioning during the day, but right now I'm feeling the heat!

The biggest "social" impact in the UK at present is probably on the rail network. Train rails are pre-stretched to cope with air temperature of ~30 degrees and track temperature of 50 degrees. Unfortunately we've started exceeding that so our overcrowded trains are facing speed limits on most lines (fast trains are more likely to cause track buckling). Over here we know exactly who to point the finger at locally for these things, but in deference to your desires and board rules I'll not be doing any finger pointing

All the local trees are fine at the moment, although greenhouse plants are suffering. The grass is getting slightly browner but it is still greener here than most of the times I've visited continental Europe.

Cheers

 

[Plane Sailing]

n.b. in the UK the hottest day on record was only back in 1990 (37.1 degrees C). seven out of the ten hottest years on record have been in the last decade.

Make of that what you will