Climate change made heat and dryness that fueled Iberian wildfires 40 times more likely, study finds

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"The extremely hot, dry and windy conditions, which fueled one of the IberianPeninsula's most destructive wildfire seasons in recorded history, were 40 times more likely due to climate change, according to a study released Thursday. The analysis by World Weather Attribution, or WWA, said the weather conditions were about 30% more intense compared to the preindustrial era, when heavy reliance on fossil fuels began."

"Summer wildfires Hundreds of wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula broke out in July and August. They spread rapidly thanks to temperatures that pushed above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and strong winds. The fires in Spain and Portugal killed eight people, forced more than 35,000 evacuations and scorched more than 640,000 hectares (1.58 million acres) or roughly two-thirds of Europe's total burned area this year. Most blazes are now under control, officials say, as temperatures have dropped considerably."

The Independent deploys reporters to cover reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech, investigates political funding such as Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC, and produces documentaries like 'The A Word'. The Independent operates without paywalls and solicits donations to fund on-the-ground journalism. The Iberian Peninsula experienced an extremely hot, dry and windy period that fueled one of its most destructive wildfire seasons. World Weather Attribution estimated those weather conditions were 40 times more likely due to climate change and about 30% more intense than in the preindustrial era. Hundreds of wildfires burned over 640,000 hectares, caused eight deaths, and forced over 35,000 evacuations.

Read at www.independent.co.uk