Floods struck northern and central Europe last week. Some areas of Slovenia recorded more than 200mm of rain in 12 hours on Thursday and Friday, causing extensive flooding across two-thirds of the country. Many buildings and roads were damaged, at an estimated cost of €500m (£432m), and six deaths were reported.
Storm Hans hit the Baltic region a few days later. Hans originated as an area of low pressure over eastern Europe, but quickly deepened as it travelled northwards towards the Baltic Sea. The low was unusually deep for a summer storm, and led to daily rainfall totals of 80 to 100mm in parts of southern Norway and Sweden earlier this week.
A red flooding alert was issued for many parts of southern Norway, with about 600 people evacuated from northern Oslo and two deaths reported. In Sweden, Gothenburg harbour was flooded and a passenger train was derailed, injuring three people.
In Denmark, waves of up to 8 metres were reported, which washed away several beach houses. Strong winds were widespread across the Baltic states, resulting in a further death in Lithuania as a result of a falling tree.
The Iberian peninsula, in contrast, was struck by wildfires. Portugal was worst affected, with fires covering an area of 7,000 hectares. Almost 1,500 tourists and local people have been evacuated from the region surrounding Odemira, where the worst of the fires are spreading. Strong winds, high temperatures and a lack of rain have allowed the fires to persist since last week, with flames now tracking towards the Algarve region.
Several wildfires have also developed in Spain, though most of these are under control, but temperatures are expected to continue breaching the 40C mark over the coming days with little sign of rain.
On the other side of the world, Hurricane Dora has contributed to the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. The strong winds associated with the category 4 storm, which passed to the south of the island chain earlier this week, fanned the wildfires, allowing them to spread faster and further. The fires have destroyed many towns and villages, and in some places people were forced to jump into the ocean to escape. Dozens of deaths have been reported.
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