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Southern Europe ‘Becoming More Flammable’ in Hotter Climate, Experts Say
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Environment & Climate

Southern Europe ‘Becoming More Flammable’ in Hotter Climate, Experts Say

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Southern Europe is becoming more prone to extreme fire conditions, with fire weather days more than doubling since 1981 due to climate change.
  • Scientists attribute the intensification to global warming, noting a near tripling of extreme fire weather days in some areas.
  • While fewer fires occur now compared to the 1980s, they are more extreme and fast-spreading, creating a "disaster" scenario.

Southern Europe is increasingly vulnerable to extreme wildfires, with the number of summer days conducive to intense fires more than doubling since 1981, according to a new study. Scientists attribute this "major intensification" of fire-prone weather primarily to climate change, observing a near tripling of extreme fire weather days in certain regions.

The number of days where the fire weather index is extreme have nearly tripled in some areas of southern Europe.

— Raul CorderoRaul Cordero, a co-author of the study and atmospheric scientist, described the increase in extreme fire weather days.

Researchers found that while overall fire frequency has decreased compared to the 1980s, the fires that do occur are more extreme and spread rapidly. This shift is characterized by searing temperatures, low humidity, dry conditions, and strong winds. Atmospheric scientist Raul Cordero noted that the frequency of extreme fire weather has nearly tripled in some parts of southern Europe.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, indicates that extreme fire conditions occurred on fewer than 10 days per summer between 1981-2010. However, this number rose to as many as 25 days per summer between 2016-2025 in countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Cordero warned that the situation will continue to worsen unless global warming is addressed.

Until we stop global warming, the situation is going to be just worsening.

— Raul CorderoRaul Cordero expressed concern about the future trajectory of wildfire risk.

The recent enormous wildfires in France and Spain follow successive heatwaves and the hottest June on record for western Europe. Scientists link these record temperatures to climate change, projecting that Europe, the continent warming fastest, could face a tenfold increase in extreme fires this century. The World Weather Attribution group also highlighted that human-induced climate change has exacerbated drought conditions across Europe, creating ideal conditions for wildfires.

The combination of climate-driven heat and tinderbox conditions were 'the ingredients for a disaster'.

— Raul CorderoRaul Cordero explained the factors contributing to the current wildfire crisis.

While investments in firefighting and containment have improved, paradoxically, they have allowed fuel to build up. This leads to fewer but more intense and larger fires. The authors conclude that Europe is entering an era of extreme fire risk, with southern Europe becoming significantly more flammable.

That disaster, unfortunately, is unfolding in Spain and France.

— Raul CorderoRaul Cordero commented on the current unfolding wildfire situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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