Sweden and Germany are grappling with severe wildfire danger as dry, hot conditions persist across northern and central Europe.
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute has issued warnings for large parts of Götaland, Svealand and Gävleborg, with the highest risk rating on its five-point scale in effect across eastern Götaland and southeastern Svealand. Fire bans are in place in the most affected areas, and rescue services in Östra Götaland responded to seven or eight ground fires in a single day. The agency has urged caution with outdoor burning and forestry work, with conditions expected to remain dangerous in the coming days.
In Germany, the German Weather Service has placed nearly all of Baden-Württemberg at the second-highest forest fire warning level, with the maximum level declared for Rheinstetten and the Black Forest National Park. Temperatures along the Rhine are expected to reach up to 37 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while UV danger remains very high across the region.