The European heatwave in August 2003 was a high pressure weather event
European heatwave 2003
Extreme heat, the warmest for 500 years (max temperature in UK got to 38.5°C)
Sustained period of high pressure bringing hot, dry tropical continental air from the south
Effects: 30,000 died - the elderly and those isolated from sources of aid were most at risk, water supply shortage, forest fires broke out across Europe, cost to European farmers: 13.1bn (dying livestock)
