A powerful heatwave is grippinggripping/ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/L2（指天气或事件）强烈地影响或控制holding your attention completely or having a strong effect western Europe, with France having its hottest day ever on Wednesday as temperatures reached 43°C in some areas. The national temperature indicatorindicator/ˈɪndɪkeɪtər/L2指示器；指标something that shows or measures a condition or situation hit 30°C, the highest since 1947. The UK also broke its June record, hitting 36.1°C in Gosport, and forecasters say it could reach 38°C on Thursday. Spain recorded its highest daily average for June, and tens of millions of people are facing the punishingpunishing/ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/L2令人难以忍受的；严酷的very difficult, tiring, or harmful heat. Climate change is warming Europe twice as fast as the global average.
As a result, the heatwave has caused serious problems. In France, at least 40 people drowneddrownedL1淹死drowned, and a large forest fire required over 150 firefighters. A six-year-old child died at a beach, and the Louvre museum closed early because it is 'not sufficiently adapted to climate change', said a spokesperson. In Spain, temperatures could reach 42°C, and Italy has 16 red alerts.
The heatwave is also affecting other countries, with Germany reporting several drownings and water shortagesshortages/ˈʃɔːrtɪdʒɪz/L2短缺；不足situations where there is not enough of something that people need, while some cities have banned barbecues. In eastern Europe, Poland, Croatia, and Hungary have issued severe heat warnings. The Dutch weather service issued a Code Orange warning, with temperatures expected to reach 39°C on Friday. Belgium is under an orange alert with highs of 37°C. Some reliefrelief/rɪˈliːf/L2缓解；减轻a feeling of comfort or a reduction in something unpleasant is expected from Friday, with temperatures gradually dropping.
