The 2018 Northern Hemisphere Heat Wave (Wikipedia censored it it).

The point!
Requests to expand the UK article in to Europe, the deleting of a update/Korean expansion of the Japanese one, A passing mention on the Greek wildfires, denials of a Swedish one (EU synopsis has been done, but will it last?) and the sudden abandonment of the N. American one save for a forest fire update by an IP.

I will add the Wiki pages here, a temperature record table and the Swedish forest fires.

Stats
The record-breaking 2018 Japan heat wave affected large areas of the country throughout much of July. Many areas experienced temperatures in excess of 35 °C (95 °F), and Kumagaya recorded a maximum temperature of 41.1 °C (106.0 °F) on 23 July – the highest ever observed in Japan. At least 80 people have died from heat-related causes and at least 22,000 had heat stroke, requiring hospitalization. Taiwan, parts of eastern China, the Korean peninsula and parts of the Russian far east were affected at times.

Synopsis
Following flooding and mudslides that lasted from late June through mid-July 2018, an extensive heat wave spread across the Japanese mainland. In the prefecturesthat had been hit the worst by floods and landslides, Hiroshima, Okayama, and Ehime, 145 people were hospitalized with heat stroke symptoms as temperatures there rose above 35 °C (95.0 °F).[10]  On 15 July, 200 out of 927 stations in the nationwide observation network recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 35 °C (95.0 °F).[11]  On 23 July, a high temperature of 41.1 °C (106.0 °F) was observed in Kumagaya, 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Tokyo. This constitutes an all-time high for all of Japan.[12]  Many cities recorded temperatures near 40 °C (104 °F) on this day.[13]  In Kyoto, temperatures stood above 38 °C (100 °F) for seven days in a row for the first time since records began to be kept in the 19th century.[14]

By 24 July, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) called the event a natural disaster and indicated many areas were observing "unprecedented levels of heat".[15]

The metrogocal causes
It was a major heat wave[8] [16] [17] [18] [16] [19] [20]  caused by 2 layers of high air presure hovering over Japan.[20] [1]

Kumagaya, in Saitama prefecture, passed it's previous high of 41C in the western prefecture of Kochi in August 2013, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency on July 23 [21]

Other non-Japanese places that had June\July record temperatures were: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Japan's metrological agency and US Data sergested it was a global heatwve.<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-6">[22] <sup id="cite_ref-24">[24]
 * Chino, Calif, USA 49C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-0">[22]
 * Ourgla, Algeria 51C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-1">[22]
 * Montreal, Canada 37C<sup id="cite_ref-23">[23] <sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-2">[22]
 * Yerevan, Arminia 42C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-3">[22]
 * Ibigawa, Japan 39C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-4">[22]
 * Glasgow, UK 32C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-5">[22]

Temperatures

 * Unseasonable high tempriturs in Taipei reached 100F degrees (37.8 C) on July 19 and 90 F (32.2 C) on July 18.<sup id="cite_ref-25">[25]
 * It was 37 degrees Celsius in Taipei from May 26 to 30. <sup id="cite_ref-xinhuanet.com_26-0">[26]
 * Toyama, Shizuoka, Tottori, Hiroshima, Oita and Kumamotowhich saw temperatures between 33.5 and 37.4. July 15 <sup id="cite_ref-japantimes.co.jp_27-0">[27]
 * Kumagaya, a city north of Tokyo, hit 41.1C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-7">[22]
 * Ome, a Tokyo suburb, recorded 40.3C<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-8">[22]
 * Kyoto, Gifu and Mie prefectures saw the mercury top 38.July 15 <sup id="cite_ref-japantimes.co.jp_27-1">[27]
 * Seoul, where the temperature rose to 96 F.July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-4">[5]
 * 106 degrees Fahrenheit in Kumagaya,
 * Gangneung, where the temperature was 88F July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-5">[5]
 * 40 degrees C on Tuesday in many Japanese cities on July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-ndtv.com_28-0">[28]
 * 41.1 C in the city of Kumagaya northwest of the capital on July 23 and July 24.<sup id="cite_ref-29">[29]  <sup id="cite_ref-ndtv.com_28-1">[28]
 * Temperatures in central Tokyo, where an Olympic stadium is being built, hovered near 35 degrees C.July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-ndtv.com_28-2">[28]
 * Seoul was 84.6 F July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-6">[5]
 * 103.8 F in the southeastern town of HayangJuly 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-7">[5]
 * Okayama, Hiroshima, and Ehime Prefectures, the mercury clocked highs of 36 degrees C. July 18 <sup id="cite_ref-auto2_30-0">[30]
 * Pyongyang reached 93.2 F.July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-8">[5]
 * Japan's eastern coast.July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-9">[5]
 * 102 F on Monday in central Tokyo was on July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-10">[5]
 * Northern Tokyo on July 23 was 40.7C (105F)<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-9">[22]

Synopsis
At least 80 people have died nationwide from heat-related causes and more than 22,000 people have required hospitalization for heat stroke.<sup id="cite_ref-BBC_0724_15-1">[15] <sup id="cite_ref-Independent_0725_13-1">[13]  Fatalities have occurred in 28 of the nation's 47 prefectures.<sup id="cite_ref-JTimes_0725_2_31-0">[31]  Between 15 and 22 July, 65 people died from the heat, including 11 on 21 July and 13 on 23 July.<sup id="cite_ref-Independent_0725_13-2">[13] <sup id="cite_ref-kyodo_32-0">[32]  The number of casualties from the heat was the greatest seen in a single week period since the government started detailed records in 2008.<sup id="cite_ref-JTimes_0725_2_31-1">[31]  On 17 July, the Tokyo Fire Department dispatched ambulances 2,900 times—the greatest number in a single day since the department began in 1936.<sup id="cite_ref-33">[33]  This was surpassed only four days later, 21 July, when ambulances were dispatched 3,125 times.<sup id="cite_ref-34">[34]

The Education Ministry issued a warning to schools to take precautions against heat stroke, following the death of one six-year-old boy who was attending an outdoor event.<sup id="cite_ref-asahi_35-0">[35]  Fewer than half of schools in the country have air conditioning, and government officials discussed extending school holidays for safety.<sup id="cite_ref-BBC_0724_15-2">[15]  Furthermore, the government considered covering the cost of installing air conditioners in schools.<sup id="cite_ref-Independent_0725_13-3">[13]  Kyushu Electric Power offered 10 percent discounts to customers aged 75 years and older for their August and September bills to promote using air conditioning.<sup id="cite_ref-JTimes_0725_36-0">[36]

Timeline of events
Mid may saw it begin as a large aria of air pressuer gathered over N.E. China, Taiwan South Korea, the DPRK and Honshu <sup id="cite_ref-37">[37] <sup id="cite_ref-38">[38]. 2 layers of high air presure hovering over Japan.<sup id="cite_ref-accuweather.com_20-2">[20] <sup id="cite_ref-canoe.com_1-4">[1].

Tawaniese tempritures were above 36 degrees Celsius on May 30, the nation's electricity demand broke an all-time record and reached 36.77GWh (gigawatt hours). <sup id="cite_ref-39">[39]  It peaked at 1:50 p.m. hitting 36.771 million kilowatts.<sup id="cite_ref-xinhuanet.com_26-1">[26]

Temperatures quickly rose in the Yangtze River valley to North China, along with the southern coasts and the Sichuan Basin sharply on June 12th. <sup id="cite_ref-40">[40]

June 28th saw China increace it's imports of of liquefied natural gas (LNG), including from Cameroon, Egypt and Europe, acording to Chinese trade data shows, to avoid power shortages during a prolonged heat wave in central China.<sup id="cite_ref-yahoo.com_41-0">[41]

Beijing reported a record temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius (104.5 degrees Fahrenheit) during a few days in early July. <sup id="cite_ref-42">[42]

The first Japanese 16 deaths were reported on July 16. <sup id="cite_ref-auto3_43-0">[43]  and 30 were dead by July 20 <sup id="cite_ref-plenglish.com_2-1">[2].

The first 10 S. Korean dead were found on July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-canoe.com_1-5">[1] <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-11">[5]

The flood repairs in Kurashiki city in Okayama and a large section of Hiroshima were disrupted after July 17th by the heat. i<sup id="cite_ref-auto2_30-1">[30]

An estimated 93 tons of dead fish washed up Pacific herring in Piltun Bay, Sakhalin Island in Russia on June 19 <sup id="cite_ref-44">[44]

Japan's Meteorological Agency warned of more high temperatures to come and gave the public advive, such as drinking more water and turning on the air conditioning on July 22 <sup id="cite_ref-45">[45]  and 23rd<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-10">[22]

Kyoto's annual Gion Matsuri parade was canceled on July 23 following seven straight days above 38 degrees. <sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-11">[22]

Japan's disaster management agency encouraged people to use air conditioning, to drink enough water and to take regular rest breaks at work on July 23.<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_22-12">[22]

Japan's public broadcaster (NHK) gave out alerts that advised frequent sips of water to keep people hydrated, advised them to restore salt levels depleted by sweat, and stay indoors. It also showed advice on on treating victims of mild heat-stroke on July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-ndtv.com_28-3">[28]

Concumer prices on the Japan Electric Power Exchange to their highest in five yearsJuly 24 <sup id="cite_ref-ndtv.com_28-4">[28]

The Japan Meteorological Agency had classified the current heatwave as a natural disaster on July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-46">[46]

Vladivostok officaly repoerted tempritures of 25C, up 4C on average on July 25/26th <sup id="cite_ref-47">[47]

The electricity grids in southern China to Tokyo and Seoul were struggling to cope with demand on July 24.<sup id="cite_ref-48">[48]

Dead
The first 16 Japanese deaths were reported on July 16. <sup id="cite_ref-auto3_43-1">[43]  The Japanese deaths occurred in six prefectures: Toyama, Shizuoka, Tottori, Hiroshima, Oita and Kumamoto July 15 <sup id="cite_ref-japantimes.co.jp_27-2">[27]

The first 10 S. Koreans were found dead on July 24 <sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-12">[5] <sup id="cite_ref-canoe.com_1-6">[1]

Personal accounts
"The weather recently in Tokyo and across Japan is like being in a sauna," Tokyo Govenor Yuriko Koike said at a news conference.<sup id="cite_ref-arkansasonline.com_5-13">[5]

“It is so hot these days that I cannot figure out whether I am in (South Korea) or in Southeast Asia,” said Kim Sung-hee, a student in downtown Seoul.<sup id="cite_ref-canoe.com_1-7">[1] <sup id="cite_ref-canoe.com_1-8">[1]

"Summer gas demand has picked up due to more consumption from gas-fired power plants as temperatures rise." said Diao Zhouwei, a gas analyst with consultancy firm IHS Markit.<sup id="cite_ref-yahoo.com_41-1">[41]

Synopsis
The 2018 North American heat wave affected regions of Canada, where at least 70 deaths in Quebec were heat-related,<sup id="cite_ref-says_1-0">[1]  of the United States, where eighteen states between Michigan and New Mexico issued heat advisories to a population of over sixty million people,<sup id="cite_ref-2">[2]  and of Mexico, particularly the northwest and central regions.<sup id="cite_ref-continue_3-0">[3]

Canada[edit source]
From 1 to 6 July 2018, the air temperature consistently rose above 35 °C (95.0 °F) in parts of Quebec and Ontario. The humidex value for Ottawa on Canada Daybetween noon and 3 pm was 47, the highest ever recorded in the city.<sup id="cite_ref-4">[4]  The heat wave also affected the Maritimes, with the humidex value reaching 35 in Halifax and 45 at Greenwood in the Annapolis Valley, on 5 July.<sup id="cite_ref-5">[5]

On 4 July, Montreal emergency services reported twelve hundred calls per day about the heat, up 30% from prior busiest days.<sup id="cite_ref-6">[6]

As of 10 July, seventy-four people, most of them already ill, had died heat-related deaths in Quebec.<sup id="cite_ref-SeventyFour_7-0">[7] <sup id="cite_ref-says_1-1">[1]  This province's death toll is reported as much higher than others' because of its looser rules for attributing death to heat.<sup id="cite_ref-8">[8]  In Ontario, where only accidental deaths directly caused by heat are counted, the coroner's office is investigating three possible cases.<sup id="cite_ref-SeventyFour_7-1">[7]

Continued warmth[edit source]
While the heat wave ended on July 10 in Central Canada, this was not so for the Maritime Provinces. On the 23rd of a July, the interaction between an unusually far-northwest Azores-Bermuda High[clarification needed] and a trough over Ontario led to the issuing of heat warnings for all three Maritime Provinces, with several locations reporting humidex values in excess of 36. <sup id="cite_ref-9">[9]

California[edit source]
On 5 July, the temperature at UCLA was 111 °F (43.9 °C), breaking the all-time high temperature record of 109 °F (42.8 °C) set in 1939 but still 6 °F (3.3 °C) lower than the record 117 °F (47.2 °C) set in Woodland Hills, a Los Angeles neighborhood, at about 1 p.m. local time the same day, according to the weather service.<sup id="cite_ref-baking_10-0">[10] Elsewhere in California, Santa Ana and Ramona hit respective record highs of 114 °F (45.6 °C) and 117 °F (47.2 °C).<sup id="cite_ref-11">[11]  The combined conditions of heat and dryness fueled wildfires that caused one fatality and hundreds of evacuations.<sup id="cite_ref-12">[12] <sup id="cite_ref-CNN_13-0">[13]

On 7 July, approximately 34,000 customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (about 2.5% of its base) experienced power outages, some for up to 24 hours. The previous day, peak energy-demand set a new record for any July day in the city, at 6,256 megawatts.<sup id="cite_ref-14">[14] <sup id="cite_ref-CNN_13-1">[13]

California's state authorities and the California Independent System Operator Corp. both urged power conservation by people and business from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 24 and July 25, 2018.<sup id="cite_ref-nownews.com_15-0">[15]  Flex Alerts were issued as the power grid began to overload. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health also urged people to stay out of the sun on July 24.<sup id="cite_ref-nownews.com_15-1">[15]  Thousands lost electricity in California due top sporadic temporary power cuts on July 24 as record temperatures his the south eastern USA, <sup id="cite_ref-nownews.com_15-2">[15]  including much of Arizona and parts of California and Utah. <sup id="cite_ref-nownews.com1_16-0">[16] ====The National Weather Service said on July 25, 2018, that temperature of 124 °F (51.1 °C) to 126 °F (52.2 °C) was forecast for California’s Death Valley on July 26. <sup id="cite_ref-nownews.com1_16-1">[16] ==== On July 26, the visitor center at Furnace Creek, California in Death Valley has been over 111 °F (43.9 °C) since 10:00am and it climbed to 124.3 °F (51.3 °C) at 4pm local time. <sup id="cite_ref-17">[17]

Californian wild fires[edit source]

The forest fires that started near the Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks on July 13 grew Jul 22<sup id="cite_ref-usatoday.com_18-0">[18], 2018. The fires were visible for several miles on the south side of the Mineral King Road and Slapjack Creek, a National Park officials said on July 22.<sup id="cite_ref-usatoday.com_18-1">[18]  The Atwell-Hockett Trail and the Tar Gap Trail are closed due to the fire, But the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks remain open on July 22<sup id="cite_ref-usatoday.com_18-2">[18]. A bulldozer on July 13 and 4 firefighters had died by July 22. More than 2,800 firefighters, a fleet of aircraft and bulldozers had contained only 7 % of its perimeter by July 22<sup id="cite_ref-usatoday.com_18-3">[18] <sup id="cite_ref-usatoday.com_18-4">[18]. An air tanker dropped fire retardant drop on the Horse Creek Fire in Sequoia National Park<sup id="cite_ref-usatoday.com_18-5">[18].

Arizona[edit source]
Phoenix, Arizona recorded 100F (38 Celsius) by midmorning on July 25 and was expected to reach 114F (45.5 C) on July 26.<sup id="cite_ref-nownews.com1_16-2">[16]

Colorado[edit source]
The temperature in Denver, Colorado, on 28 June, tied the city's record at 105 °F (40.6 °C).<sup id="cite_ref-19">[19]  The record was set in 1878, then matched in 2005 and 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-20">[20]

Mexico
By the end of May 2018, Mexico was already one week into an ola de calor (heat wave). The states of Baja California, Sonora, Nayarit, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Querétaro and Morelos registered temperatures between 40 °C (104.0 °F) to 45 °C (113.0 °F), while Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Michoacán and Hidalgo between 45 °C (113.0 °F) and 50 °C (122.0 °F). Chihuahua broke its 1978 mark and Sinaloa surpassed the high recorded there in 1961.

By early June 2018, the Mexican government had declared a state of emergency in more than three hundred municipalities. The extraordinary sales of cold beverages, ice creams, popsicles and other items popular during hot weather increased to such an extent that Canacope Puebla, a Mexico City business chamber, estimated the nation's GDP would increase by approximately 260 million pesos ($13 mln).

Europe
The 2018 European drought and heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather that has led to record-breaking temperatures and wildfires in many parts of Europe during the spring and summer of 2018. It is part of a larger heat wave affecting the northern hemisphere, caused by the jet stream being farther north than usual, trapping hot air above North America, Europe, and Asia, and blocking low-pressure systems that would bring cooler air and rainfall.

Latvia
Latvia has seen fires that have destroyed around 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) of land including peat bog, scrubland and forest.<sup id="cite_ref-Phys_heatwave_northern_europe_2-1">[2]

Netherlands[edit]
The Netherlands experienced a heat wave that is still going on, and stands at 13 days as of June 27, starting at the July 15.<sup id="cite_ref-4">[4]  The highest temperature of 38.2 °C was measured in Arcen, Limburg, on June 26.<sup id="cite_ref-5">[5]  Authorities are planning for water shortages in many parts of the country.<sup id="cite_ref-Phys_heatwave_northern_europe_2-2">[2]

Sweden[edit]
Sweden is experiencing widespread drought, it has also experienced fires burning over 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres), with 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres) in its central Karbole region.<sup id="cite_ref-Phys_heatwave_northern_europe_2-3">[2]

Switzerland[edit]
Switzerland had the warmest April-July period since meteorological records began in 1864. Likewise, 2018 broke the record for the least rainfall in any April-July period since 1864.<sup id="cite_ref-6">[6]  Fearing wildfires, authorities have completely banned outdoor fires in the canton of Valais and in the Rhine river valley of Grisons. 18 of the 26 cantonshave restricted outdoor fires in some way.<sup id="cite_ref-7">[7]

Temperature record tables
.

Greek, UK and and Irish pages

 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Attica_wildfires
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_United_Kingdom_wildfires
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_United_Kingdom_and_Ireland_heat_wave
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_European_drought_and_heat_waves

Refrencecs

 * 1) http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/heat-wave-death-toll-1.4740031
 * 2) http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/38553233/heat-dome-brings-dangerously-high-temps-humidity-to-most-of-us
 * 3) Jump up^ Toribio, Laura (5 June 2018). "La ola de calor en México se prolongará hasta agosto: meteorólogo del IPN" [IPN meteorologist: The heat wave in Mexico will continue until August]. Excélsior (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 4) Jump up^ Spears, Tom (3 July 2018). "Ottawa misses a heat record, but sets a humidex record". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 5) Jump up^ d'Entremont, Danielle (5 July 2018). "How Haligonians are beating the heat". CBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 6) Jump up^ Hajjaji, Danya (5 July 2018). "Canadian heat wave kills 12 in Montreal". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 7) ^ Jump up to:a b Hauen, Jack (5 July 2018). "Highlighting differences with Quebec, Ontario coroner announces investigations of three heat-related deaths". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
 * 8) Jump up^ Scotti, Monique (5 July 2018). "Heat-related deaths seem concentrated in Quebec, but there's more to the story". Global Television Network. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
 * 9) Jump up^ "Rain threat builds in Atlantic Canada, but heat goes on". The Weather Network. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
 * 10) Jump up^ Wolford, Ben (7 July 2018). "Records Broken as Heat Wave Bakes Southern California". CNN-News18. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 11) Jump up^ Arango, Tim (7 July 2018). "Record Heat in Southern California, and an Ominous Start to Wildfire Season". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
 * 12) Jump up^ "Southern California heat wave breaks records". CBC News. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
 * 13) ^ Jump up to:a b Andone, Dakin (8 July 2018). "Thousands without power in Los Angeles after high demand due to heat wave". CNN. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 14) Jump up^ Miracle, Veronica; Rand, Jory (7 July 2018). "SoCal heat wave leaves thousands without power across region". ABC7. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 15) ^ Jump up to:a b c "California urges power conservation during heat wave - The China Post". The China Post.
 * 16) ^ Jump up to:a b c "The Latest: Death Valley temperature expected to hit 124 - The China Post". The China Post.
 * 17) Jump up^ "Furnace Creek visitor center in Death Valley, CA. July 25, 2018 4pm 124.3 deg F". Meso West. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
 * 18) ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f "Forest fires near Sequoia, Yosemite national parks grow".
 * 19) Jump up^ Reynolds, Dan (29 June 2018). "Dangerous heat wave hitting U.S. over Fourth of July weekend". CBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 20) Jump up^ Fritz, Angel (29 June 2018). "Denver just tied its all-time temperature record. This heat wave is just getting started". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 21) ^ Jump up to:a b Suárez, Karina (31 May 2018). "El termómetro marcará hasta 50 grados en México" [Thermometer to mark up to 50 °C (122.0 °F) in Mexico]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 22) ^ Jump up to:a b "Tres muertos deja ola de calor de hasta 58 grados que derrite a los mexicanos" [Heat wave of 58 °C (136.4 °F) leaves three dead, melts Mexicans]. La Prensa (in Spanish). 2 June 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
 * 23) Jump up^ "Heat wave causes 3 deaths, economic boost, melting traffic lights". Mexico News Daily. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.