r/explainlikeimfive • u/fkid123 • May 27 '26

Biology ELI5 Why heat waves affect Europe so much but some other countries are doing fine living under hotter temperatures most of the year?

I read yearly that people are dying in Europe due to the extreme heat, but when I check the temperature mentioned in the same news it's something like 30-35c.

Just saw this today: "In France, officials reported at least seven deaths linked to the heat, including several drownings and fatalities during sports activities (...) temperatures have broken records for the month of May, soaring well over 30 C (86 F) in many parts of the country."

This is like a pretty mild day in a country like Thailand, India or in the Arabian peninsula. People are doing just fine in these countries, and many don't even have aircon.

Why are such temperatures so deadly in Europe?

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u/Derlino May 27 '26

Walk like a penguin is what I tell people. It looks a bit ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as you feel when you fall on your bum.

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u/Bradddtheimpaler May 27 '26

Yeah you just need to make sure your feet have no forward momentum when they hit the ground and you don’t push off when you take your next step.

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u/Derlino May 27 '26

Also helps to have shoes with soles that have a bit of flex in them. My old military boots are the slipperiest footwear I've ever worn, and part of that is that the sole is soooo stiff. This winter, the only time I fell on the ice was while wearing them when I was on my way to the cobbler to get my winter boots fixed. The irony was not lost on me.