A Heatwave hits southern Europe Temperatures are expected to be near record highs in some areas over the past week, prompting officials in Italy, Greece, Spain and elsewhere to take action to protect residents and tourists from the scorching heat.
Often referred to as Cerberus, after the multi-headed dog that guards the underworld in Greek mythology, recent high temperatures have seen thermometers soar to over 98 degrees Fahrenheit (nearly 37 degrees Celsius).
And it’s expected to get worse. A new wave is on the way – Greek meteorologists have named it Charon, after the ferryman of the underworld.
According to meteorology experts, governments are preparing for higher temperatures and are issuing warnings to warn residents in anticipation that southern Europe and the Balkans will only get hotter in the coming days.
Although it’s difficult to link individual events to climate change, scientists say heat waves are increasing in frequency and intensity faster in Europe than almost anywhere else in the world.
This summer is expected to be worse than last year due to El Niño, a natural weather phenomenon forming for the first time in four years that has favored conditions for rising temperatures.
Here’s what you need to know:
how hot does it get
In Italy, extreme temperatures of 104 degrees are expected in Florence and Rome, with potentially alarming peaks of 118 degrees in places like the southern islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Over a dozen cities were under heat warnings on Saturday, including Bologna, Florence and Rome. health authorities advised People in affected areas should avoid direct sunlight from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m
Spain’s public weather monitor on Friday warned that temperatures in the eastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, would rise to between 104 and 107 degrees in the first half of next week. Some parts of the country could see even higher heat levels, the state weather agency said.
Temperatures will rise in some places in Greece on Saturday had already risen to over 100 degrees until noon. Of the country National Weather Service warned that the heatwave would continue into next week.
Temperatures were also expected to rise across Portugal next week, reaching 104 degrees along the coast in the south and 97 degrees in the central and northern regions. after to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere.
In Croatia, residents of the coastal village of Grebastica were evacuated on Thursday after heat led to a spreading forest fire. On the south coast of the country, temperatures are expected to rise to 98 degrees in the coming week.
Temperatures in southern Serbia are expected to reach highs of 100 degrees on Sunday. And the Polish weather agency warned that heat could set in There is a risk of forest fireswith maximum temperatures reaching 95 degrees in the west of the country.
How are European countries reacting?
Last year 61,000 people died could be due to the brutal heat in Europe, according to a recent study, with children and the elderly being particularly vulnerable.
After a particularly deadly heat wave in 2003, officials in Europe introduced initiatives such as extreme heat warning systems and public cold storage. In some areas, municipalities have tried methods such as putting reflective paint on sidewalks or making more room for water to cool the floor. But experts say authorities have not done enough to find longer-term solutions to mitigate the effects of heatwaves, including creating more green space and refurbishing public spaces and transport.
Fearing that this year’s heatwaves could also be deadly, authorities have taken protective measures over the past week, advising people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water if possible.
In Italy, where a worker in the northern part of the country died last week after collapsing in the heat while painting some signs, officials have issued emergency alerts, deploying misting tents in some areas and warning people to stay indoors and stay hydrated to take.
In Greece, the government has taken emergency measures, including the opening of public cold rooms, allowing employees of private companies to work remotely Workers exposed to heat stress must take a break from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Greek Ministry of Civil Protection warned of this the high potential There were fires in five areas and said government and regional officials were on alert to help if needed.
The intensity of Friday’s heat in Athens – nearly 100 degrees – prompted authorities to temporarily close the Acropolis during the hottest hours of the dayand similar measures were in effect on Saturday. As visitors to the archaeological site on a rocky, steep hill have struggled with the heat in recent days, helpers have been distributing water to tourists.
Aaron Boxerman contributed to the reporting.
