Heatwave Cooking Sicily's Lemons On The Tree - Greece Hottest In 110 Years @ 114.8F - Reuters

[hatrack]

ATHENS -- A heatwave that has killed more than 30 people in parts of southeast Europe has hit wildlife and crops, from the humble toad in Greek lagoons to grain across the region, while fruit is ripening weeks early in Italy. Greece is experiencing its worst heatwave in 110 years that has already killed seven people, with temperatures reaching 46 Celsius (114.8 Fahrenheit) during a scorcher that has lasted five days and showed no signs on Wednesday of letting up.

In southern Italy, after the hottest spring in nearly two centuries, this year's harvest of grapes and other fruit and vegetables is expected to be as much as a month earlier than usual, at the beginning of August. The heat is "literally cooking" Sicilian lemons on the trees, said farmers' group Coldiretti, while watermelons, peppers, courgettes, peaches and tomatoes are also at risk.

Greece's flora and fauna are suffering and environmentalists warned the sweltering temperatures could have a long-term effect on animal populations and plants. "Birds, now in their nesting period, laying eggs in exposed nests are at a very high risk," Martin Gaethlich of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature said. "The eggs are overheating if left uncovered so birds have to remain on the eggs for much longer."

Several other nature groups have also raised the alarm. Swallows are having problems finding mud for their nests, forcing them to travel further in search for their building material while frogs, toads and salamanders are seeing their habitats dry up, shortening their life span and affecting in turn those animals who feed on them. "These are all linked to each other. With the frog and toad populations dropping, birds who feed on them have problems finding food as they stay in Greece until the autumn," Gaethlich said.

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=13037

[Eurobabe]

1. meanwhile in central Europe its struggling to crack 55-60F

and in 40s at night. I'd much rather have the cool temps than this awful heat though...with no A/C in many places, these heat waves truly SUCK, not to mention the toll it takes on the trees, plants, animals.

Weird weather much?

[phantom power]

2. The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.

[MuseRider]

3. We are all linked together.

This is disturbing but then the news about our environment has been disturbing for quite some time.

[kestrel91316]

4. This happens EVERY YEAR here in LA (San Fernando Valley).

If I don't get those lemons picked by mid-June, forget it - they are baked. And growing tomatoes and peppers here is extremely challenging because they literally melt on the vine in the heat, usually just as a bumper crop is ripening to perfection.....

[cliss]

5. Thanks for posting.

According to what I've read, the cloud layers are pulling back from the equator, toward the poles (north + south). That means that countries around the equator are going to fry.

Seems to be permanent, too.

Anybody want to buy a nice estate on the Italian Riviera? A bargain.