Following Europe, Israel braces for dayslong extreme heat wave on Friday

A four-day extreme heat wave is expected to hit Israel on Friday, with temperatures slated to spike to 47 degrees Celsius (116 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas of the country, according to the Israel Meteorological Service (IMS).

“This is the most significant and prolonged heat wave of the current season,” IMS director Dr. Amir Givati told the Ynet news site. “There will be very low humidity, which means we are concerned about fires.”

The region’s heat wave comes amid record-smashing highs in Europe, sparking wildfires and causing more than 1,000 deaths in France alone.

The extreme heat will hit the Jordan Valley hardest, with temperatures set to soar to around 46°C (115°F), about six degrees above the seasonal norm.

Peak temperatures in the Golan Heights, the Galilee Panhandle and the Negev are predicted to reach 38-42ºC (100-107ºF), and 35-36ºC (95-97ºF) in the country’s central area, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The UV index in some coastal areas, including Tel Aviv, may peak at a dangerous level of 11 in the middle of the day. The UV index in other parts of the country will reach 10, which falls into the very high risk category.

The Health Ministry has urged the public — particularly the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases — to avoid sun exposure. It also stressed avoiding unnecessary physical exertion, drinking as much water as possible and staying in well-ventilated or air-conditioned places.

The Nature and Parks Authority has already announced a ban on lighting fires in nature reserves and national parks, except in designated areas, and the agency said that it may close some of the country’s hiking trails as well.

The Israel Electric Corporation has asked the public to be “vigilant” and report to its 103 hotline safety hazards, as well as any tree branches spotted near power lines or fires near electrical facilities.

In a cautionary statement, the Health Ministry reminded the public not to leave children, the elderly or the disabled in an unattended vehicle that is not air-conditioned.

Animals should also not be left in a vehicle or in a building without water and ventilation, the ministry said.

We can’t take the heat

According to the World Health Organization, heat stress is a leading cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate underlying illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health. It can also increase the risk of transmission of some infectious diseases.

Extreme heat can impact the body’s ability to regulate internal temperature and strain the body as it tries to cool itself.

Heat stroke symptoms include high body temperature, red and hot skin, severe headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or loss of consciousness.

“Extreme heatwaves are a real health hazard that can rapidly deteriorate into a life-threatening situation,” said Dr. Khaled Atalla, director of the emergency medicine department at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, in a statement.

The Earth is heating up

In the next five years, the Earth is likely to shatter its hottest-year records, according to new United Nations climate projections.

The World Meteorological Organization also forecasts an overheating Arctic that warms nearly 1.66 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) between now and 2030.

In its latest study, researchers from the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies said that based on their most recent data on hospital stays during heat waves, Israeli policymakers should plan for additional staffing and hospital beds during extreme heat, since Israelis suffering from cardiac, pulmonary and other diseases require longer hospital stays than during pleasant weather.

“We are used to peaks [of hospital visits] in the winter because of influenza, rather than in the summer,” said Maya Sadeh, who led the study.