Heatwave warning for tourist hotspots amid highs of 40C
Tourist hotspots around Europe are facing the first major heatwave of the summer with extreme temperature warnings in place in Spain, while Greece has seen highs in excess of 40C with authorities advising people to stay indoors.
The Spanish weather agency AEMET has warned of extreme temperatures exceeding 40C across much of the country this weekend.
In Madrid the usually busy streets are dotted with residents and tourists seeking relief from the heat, with a severe high temperature warning in place.
Some on the streets were carrying portable fans, with others resting in the shade or under water sprinklers installed in public areas.
For some residents, the heat has become a daily struggle.
"Honestly, it's tough," says Marina, a 22-year-old marketing intern. "There's no sea here, barely any pools in Madrid. You sweat so much, it's just unpleasant."
Janeth, a 47-year-old street vendor, described the heat as "exhausting" and says it forced her to change jobs.
"My previous work was unbearable. I even felt dizzy from the heat"
As the sun reflects off the city's buildings and umbrellas bloom across plazas, the early arrival of such extreme heat has taken many by surprise. "It always gets hot in Madrid," Marina added, "but for it to be this intense in June? That's shocking."
Barcelona City Council meanwhile has activated a heat plan as a preventative measure until mid-September to make municipal resources and air-conditioned spaces available to citizens over the summer period.
People in Greece advised to stay indoors
Temperatures in Greece yesterday surpassed 40C with authorities advising the public to stay indoors.
At the Acropolis in Athens scores of tourists endured the heat with the help of hats, fans and umbrellas while air-conditioned centres were made available to the public to find refuge until the evening.
Authorities set up a hotline for anyone requiring medical advice due to the heat.
They also advised residents not to throw out rubbish during peak heat hours in the middle of the day, to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and to restrict their movements.
Authorities also banned outdoor work for builders and delivery staff from 9am to 2pm local time, and encouraged remote working.
At the city's homeless animal shelter four-legged friends enjoyed dips in the dog pool to keep cool.
The fire brigade said it was on standby and warned of a high risk of fires in central and southern Greece.
On Thursday, a wildfire in a coastal town south of Athens damaged homes.
Meteorologists said temperatures will start to dip on the weekend.
Greece has often experienced hot and dry summers, but longer and more severe heatwaves have been more frequent in recent years along with wildfires amid a changing climate.
In the UK, temperatures could hit 30C amid the second amber heat health alert in two weeks.
Yesterday, temperatures reached 29C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and the weather is forecast to climb over the next couple of days, according to the Met Office.
It comes as a second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force yesterday.
The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday.
Ireland meanwhile is not expected to experience such highs anytime soon.
Cloudy, damp and humid conditions will linger this afternoon further south and east with highest temperatures of 17 to 22C expected.
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Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Europe on alert as first major heatwave of 2025 pushes temperatures to 42C
Authorities across Europe are on alert as the first heatwave of the summer pushes temperatures up to 42C, as the fastest-warming continent continues to suffer the effects of the climate emergency. Spain's state meteorological office, Aemet, issued a special heat warning on Friday, saying temperatures could reach 42C in some southern areas of the country over the coming days. 'Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people,' Aemet said. Madrid's health ministry also warned people to take extra care in the heat, reminding them to stay out of the sun, keep hydrated and pay close attention to those who are older, pregnant or who have chronic health conditions. Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires as temperatures of up to 42C are expected in Lisbon. As temperatures in Marseille approach 40C, authorities in France's second-largest city have ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat. With peaks of 39C expected in Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy. The country's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other regions. In Venice — which has played host to the lavish three-day wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, guests, visitors and protesters are feeling the heat. 'I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke,' Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told Agence France-Presse in the city. As temperatures in Greece approached 40C, a large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, leading authorities to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a major tourist attraction. The heatwave follows a series of broken extreme-heat records, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events, including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves, have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. Last year was the hottest in recorded history so far and led to worldwide disasters, costing more than $300bn. A Lancet Public Health study published last year found that heat deaths in Europe could triple by the end of the century, with the numbers rising disproportionately in southern countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain. Deaths from warm weather could kill 129,000 people a year if temperatures rise to 3C above preindustrial levels. Today, heat-related deaths in Europe stand at 44,000. But the yearly death toll from cold and heat in Europe may rise from 407,000 people today to 450,000 in 2100, even if world leaders meet their global heating target of 1.5C, the study found. Read More Billionaire Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in lavish Venice ceremony
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Heatwave warning for tourist hotspots amid highs of 40C
Tourist hotspots around Europe are facing the first major heatwave of the summer with extreme temperature warnings in place in Spain, while Greece has seen highs in excess of 40C with authorities advising people to stay indoors. The Spanish weather agency AEMET has warned of extreme temperatures exceeding 40C across much of the country this weekend. In Madrid the usually busy streets are dotted with residents and tourists seeking relief from the heat, with a severe high temperature warning in place. Some on the streets were carrying portable fans, with others resting in the shade or under water sprinklers installed in public areas. For some residents, the heat has become a daily struggle. "Honestly, it's tough," says Marina, a 22-year-old marketing intern. "There's no sea here, barely any pools in Madrid. You sweat so much, it's just unpleasant." Janeth, a 47-year-old street vendor, described the heat as "exhausting" and says it forced her to change jobs. "My previous work was unbearable. I even felt dizzy from the heat" As the sun reflects off the city's buildings and umbrellas bloom across plazas, the early arrival of such extreme heat has taken many by surprise. "It always gets hot in Madrid," Marina added, "but for it to be this intense in June? That's shocking." Barcelona City Council meanwhile has activated a heat plan as a preventative measure until mid-September to make municipal resources and air-conditioned spaces available to citizens over the summer period. People in Greece advised to stay indoors Temperatures in Greece yesterday surpassed 40C with authorities advising the public to stay indoors. At the Acropolis in Athens scores of tourists endured the heat with the help of hats, fans and umbrellas while air-conditioned centres were made available to the public to find refuge until the evening. Authorities set up a hotline for anyone requiring medical advice due to the heat. They also advised residents not to throw out rubbish during peak heat hours in the middle of the day, to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and to restrict their movements. Authorities also banned outdoor work for builders and delivery staff from 9am to 2pm local time, and encouraged remote working. At the city's homeless animal shelter four-legged friends enjoyed dips in the dog pool to keep cool. The fire brigade said it was on standby and warned of a high risk of fires in central and southern Greece. On Thursday, a wildfire in a coastal town south of Athens damaged homes. Meteorologists said temperatures will start to dip on the weekend. Greece has often experienced hot and dry summers, but longer and more severe heatwaves have been more frequent in recent years along with wildfires amid a changing climate. In the UK, temperatures could hit 30C amid the second amber heat health alert in two weeks. Yesterday, temperatures reached 29C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and the weather is forecast to climb over the next couple of days, according to the Met Office. It comes as a second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force yesterday. The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday. Ireland meanwhile is not expected to experience such highs anytime soon. Cloudy, damp and humid conditions will linger this afternoon further south and east with highest temperatures of 17 to 22C expected.
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
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Thousands of Brits flock to beaches to soak up glorious sunshine as temps set to hit 34C in just days
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