Extreme heatwave hits Europe as temperatures soar above 40C in holiday hotspots
Multiple European countries are bracing for a heatwave this weekend, with highs of 44C predicted as alerts have been issued.
In France, Greece, Spain and Portugal, locals and tourists alike have been trying to take shelter from the sweltering temperatures.
One tourist in Madrid, where temperatures were expected to reach 40C, told The Associated Press on Friday (27 June): 'Yeah, it's gonna be very hot, so I think we try to avoid the sun as much as possible. We try to stay inside as much as possible and try to drink as much beer as possible. I think it's possibly the best option.'
In Portugal and Greece "severe" wildfire alerts have also been issued, with 'very low humidity' and 'strong winds' fuelling the blazes.
In Mallorca, a 34-year-old Dutch tourist died of heatstroke while hiking with friends in Camí de Son Sales.
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Map: Where second UK heatwave of 2025 will hit as temperatures set to soar to 32C
Britons are set to bask in another heatwave as temperatures rise to 30C this weekend and get even hotter into next week. Unsettled conditions on Thursday and Friday will still see temperatures steadily rise, with highs potentially reaching 28C in the south and east by Friday, the Met Office said. Thunderstorms are possible with warm, humid air set to linger in the south and east on Thursday, with maximum temperatures of 27C in eastern England, the forecaster added. But temperatures are unlikely to feel 'quite as muggy', meteorologist Honor Criswick said. 'For the first part of the day, it is set to be unsettled (with) outbreaks of quite heavy rain at times, particularly across Scotland,' he said. 'But it's fairly fast moving, so by the time we reach the afternoon, particularly from the west, we're going to see the return of those bright and sunny spells. 'And behind this area of rain, a much fresher feel to the air as well.' On Friday, forecasters said the unsettled conditions look set to continue. According to the Met Office, rain could be heavy in the west, while the east of England could remain dry, escaping with some sunny intervals. Parts of the south and east may also remain very warm, with highs potentially reaching 28C as the muggy air returns. Temperatures are expected to peak on Monday when much of the country will see temperatures in the early to mid-30s, the UK Health Security Agency said. It comes as the UKHSA issued an amber heat health alert, covering London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England. It is in place from midday on Friday and will last until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services. Going into next week, a low pressure system passes to the north west of the UK on Monday bringing wetter windier conditions to the region. There will be dry and hot weather elsewhere across the country with temperatures reaching 32C in London and the south east, the Met Office forecast shows. Dr Akshay Deoras, a research scientist in the department of meteorology, University of Reading, urged people to 'treat extreme heat with the same respect you'd show a dangerous storm.' He advised against going outdoors during the hottest part of the day and stressed the importance of staying hydrated – drinking water regularly, even without feeling thirsty, and avoiding alcohol, which 'can accelerate dehydration.' To stay cool, he recommended wearing loose, light-coloured clothing and using a wide-brimmed hat when outside. People were also urged not to brush off symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat or headaches. 'These warning signs can rapidly escalate into life-threatening heatstroke if ignored,' he said. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should move to a cooler area, remove excess clothing and apply cold water to the skin, he added.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
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 (107.6F), 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 (£219bn). 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. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 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. Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads
Health and fire warnings have been issued in countries across southern Europe, with temperatures expected to exceed 40C in some places over the Greece, France, Spain and Portugal are among the countries affected - with the Spanish city of Seville forecast to hit 42C. Hot air from North Africa, which is spreading across the Balkans to holiday destinations such as Croatia, is contributing to the soaring temperatures. BBC Weather says the heatwave is "very intense" for this time of the year -with the continent normally experiencing such high temperatures in July and early August. In Spain, emergency staff have been placed on standby to deal with a surge in heatstroke cases especially among the vulnerable including children, the elderly and those with chronic authorities are advising residents in several cities, including Rome, Milan and Venice - where several A-list celebrities have gathered for the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez - to stay indoors between 11:00 and 18:00 local time. France, meanwhile, has been experiencing a heatwave for more than a week. Orange heat alerts, the country's second-highest warning, were issued for southern regions on Friday. In the city of Marseille, municipal swimming pools are being opened free of charge until the end of the heatwave. Yellow and amber alerts are also in place for parts of England this weekend, with temperatures set to reach 32C. The heatwave is forecast to last until Tuesday evening. Wildfires have already struck some parts of Europe, including Greece, where coastal towns near the capital, Athens, erupted in flames that destroyed homes - forcing people to evacuate. While it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate at World Weather Attribution, who analyse the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, say June heatwaves with three consecutive days above 28C are about 10 times more likely to occur now compared to pre-industrial times.
