Europeans are warned to stay indoors as continent goes on high alert for extreme 47C heat and forest fires and Met Office says hottest day yet is coming for UK

Daily Mail​

18 hours ago

Europeans have been warned to stay indoors as the continent goes on high alert for extreme 47C heat - as the Met Office says the UK's hottest day yet is on its way.
The mercury is set to rise to 36C on Monday in parts of the UK in what could be the hottest June day in record and the highest temperature in nearly three years.
An amber heat health alert has been activated until Tuesday covering the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, alongside Somerset - where Glastonbury is roaring ahead.
And hayfever sufferers may have to lock themselves inside as a pollen bomb is set to be released on the same day - with very high levels across the south and midlands at the start of the week in what experts say will be the 'perfect storm' of misery.
This week forest fires and flash floods have wrecked chaos across the continent, with warnings a heatwave is bearing down.
Sweltering infernos have melted roads in Italy while raging wildfires tore through Greece.
Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires, with 42C expected in the capital Lisbon.
Residents of the southern French port city of Marseille and across Spain are also bracing themselves for 40C while it could reach highs of 39C in Rome.
And it is only going to get more intense as the week goes on -with Sicily and areas of northern Italy banning outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day.
In Nice, on the French Riviera, nearly 250 portable fans have been distributed to schools over the past two weeks to help cope with the heat.
Temperatures could hit 31C (88F) today in southern England, with highs of 31C (88F) on Sunday, 36C (97F) on Monday and 31C (88F) on Tuesday.
A so-called 'heat dome', where heat is trapped by a high-pressure system, is taking hold of the continent as well as another over eastern and central areas of the US.
The conditions claimed the life of a Dutch tourist aged 34 who died from heatstroke in Mallorca earlier this week. France and Germany have been hammered by rain, hail and flooding - leaving three people dead, including a child crushed to death by a tree.
Spaniards were advised by meteorologists to 'remain indoors as much as possible' and to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, while firefighters in Greece battled a wildfire that burned homes near the coastal town of Palaia Fokaia near Athens.
In the UK, if the temperature reaches above 33.2C (91.8F) it would make it the hottest day of the year so far - beating the current record set last Saturday in Charlwood, Surrey.
Experts say the intense heat and high pollen levels on Monday with create a 'worst of both worlds' scenario for the nation's 16 million hay fever sufferers.
The South East, East of England, the East Midlands and West Midlands are expected to be the worst-hit regions with 'very high' pollen on Monday – while levels across the rest of the UK are mostly 'high'.
George Sandhu, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist for Well Pharmacy, said: 'Monday could be the worst day of the year for hay fever sufferers.
'High heat and pollen are the worst of both worlds for sufferers, who should consider limiting their time outside, keeping their windows closed and taking antihistamines.'
'My best advice to sufferers is to start taking your antihistamines right now, even if you have no symptoms yet. The earlier you take them, the more your body will be prepared to fight.'
The record for the UK's hottest ever June day will also be under threat, having stood for nearly half a century at 35.6C (96.1F) after being set in 1976 in Southampton.
The hottest day of 2024 was 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12; while the peak in 2023 was 33.5C (92.3F) in Kent on September 10; and the 2022 high was 40.3C (104.5F) on July 19 in Lincolnshire - the UK's highest temperature on record.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas.
Six tips for hayfever sufferers
From George Sandhu, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist for Well Pharmacy
Monitor the pollen count
I recommend doing a daily check so you know when you are most at risk. You can find this information on the Met Office website, which is constantly monitored
Limit your time outdoors
Pollen levels peak in the morning and evening, so be sure to avoid being outside then, or if necessary, only for short periods of time
Keep windows closed
Keep both home and car windows closed to reduce pollen entry. Use your air con rather than risk inhaling pollen particles
Change your clothes regularly
Pollen attaches itself to clothing when you are outside and can stay on your clothes all day. Be sure to shower and change your clothes after being outside to wash off any pollen that remains
Wraparound shades
I would advise wearing wraparound sunglasses to shield and protect your eyes.
Sunglasses create a physical barrier between your eyes and the pollen, reducing the amount that can come into direct contact with your eyes, reducing irritation, itching, and redness, which are common hay fever symptoms.
Also, with sunglasses, you're less likely to rub your eyes due to irritation from allergens, which can worsen the symptoms and lead to further inflammation or infection
Consult a pharmacist
If suffering from hay fever it is best to consult your local pharmacist and discuss what might be the best course of action
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said yesterday: 'From Friday onwards we're starting to once again see the heat build across England and Wales.
'Scotland and Northern Ireland are going to have a slightly different few days, some parts of western Scotland could see some heavy rain, especially on Friday, and we could potentially see some further rain towards the end of the weekend.
'On Friday, we're likely to see temperatures potentially peak around 27C or 28C in central and southern parts of England, it's going to feel quite humid.
'On Saturday, the hottest weather will be in the south east, potentially 30C. On Sunday, we're most likely to see somewhere around 30C or 31C
'It looks like the peak of the hot spell will be Monday, at the moment it's looking between 32C and 34C, there's a chance it'll be hotter than the previous (heatwave).
'Tuesday, some fresher air is going to spread across the country, but we're potentially likely to see between 31C and 33C.'
Some parts of central and southern England might meet the heatwave criteria by Monday, Mr Snell added. The Met Office forecast for London on Monday is 36C.
Mr Snell also said that as of Monday, some potential thunderstorms could move in, but it is too early to say where they might be.
Temperatures are likely to go back down to the mid-20Cs after Tuesday, which is still above average for the time of year, the forecaster said.
The UKHSA activated the amber alert amid concerns that there could be 'a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions'.
The warning said 'significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures' along with 'increased demand for power exceeding capacity' and 'heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services'.
It told of 'indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings'; and 'internal temperatures in care settings may exceed recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment'.
There could also be 'issues managing medicines'; 'staffing issues due to external factors'; and 'other sectors starting to observe impacts - for example, travel delays'.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: 'We have already seen a spell of hot weather last week and temperatures are once again set to increase in the coming days, with central, southern and eastern areas of the country likely to see the biggest impacts.
'Our findings show that heat, especially at the sort of temperatures we are likely to see at the beginning of next week, can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Experts say the intense heat and high pollen levels on Monday with create a 'worst of both worlds' scenario for the nation's 16 million hay fever sufferers. Pictured: Pollen levels on Sunday (left) and Monday (right)
'It is, therefore, important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.'
The National Pharmacy Association has advised patients to store their medicine away from heat zones and direct sunlight, warning that they can lose effectiveness or cause unwanted side effects.
Vice-chairwoman and pharmacist Sukhi Basra said: 'It's important we take sensible precautions, including double-checking that your medication is stored correctly in a cool dry place, as per any storage instructions, ideally below 25C, as well drinking plenty of fluids and keeping your homes cool in the hottest hours of the day.
'We know the hot weather can be more of a challenge for older people or those with certain health conditions and it's important people check on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours during this period.
'If anyone has concerns at all about their health or their medication, please speak to your local pharmacy, who will be well placed to help.'
Meanwhile data from Virgin Media O2 has predicted network traffic will drop as Brits head outside to enjoy the sunshine this week.
Analysis of network traffic during the first heatwave earlier this month revealed that traffic fell by 7 per cent when the temperature hit 30C.
Its poll found 41 per cent of UK workers admit to having pulled a sickie to make the most of hot weather, with that figure soaring to six out of ten 18 to 24 year olds.
Weather expert Nacho Espinos has advised Spaniards to 'remain indoors as much as possible' and to avoid strenuous outdoor activities as the country prepares for the most extreme heatwave of the year.
Emergency medical staff in Spain readied to deal with an unexpected surge in heatstroke cases, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.
In neighbouring Portugal, the national meteorological agency IPMA said the heatwave would hit from today, with temperatures passing 40C in the south of the country as well as in the central Tagus and the Douro valleys in the north.
Sunday will be even hotter, the agency added, and two-thirds of the country has already been put on orange alert. Temperatures are expected to hit 42C in the capital, Lisbon.
The risk of fire is at its highest inland in the northern half of Portugal, as well as on the Algarve coast popular with holidaymakers in the south.
In Greece, firefighters have been battling a wildfire that burned residences and holiday houses near the coastal town of Palaia Fokaia near Athens, which has forced people to flee.
Fires have burned throughout the week, where frequent wildfires and floods in recent years have been exacerbated by a changing climate.
In the area of Palaia Fokaia, 130 firefighters were supported by 12 aircraft and 12 helicopters as they sought to put out flames that were whipped up by high winds.
Greek police have moved to safety 40 people, firebrigade spokesperson Vasilios Vathrakogiannis told a televised news conference, adding that coastguard vessels had sailed to the area to assist with more evacuations if needed.
'Firefighters are fighting a huge battle with the flames, mainly near houses,' he said, adding that a seaside roadway running across the affected areas was protectively cordoned off.
Footage showed thick grey smoke rising over the region with lush vegetation, where air temperatures soared to 38C on Thursday.
Authorities said the risk of wildfires would remain high on Friday before the weather got cooler.
Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze around Athens.
Greece has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to acquire new and modern firefighting equipment to deal with wildfires, which have been made harder to contain by rising summer temperatures.
It has increased its number of firefighters to a record 18,000 this year in anticipation of another difficult wildfire season.
Hundreds of firefighters in Greece also battled a wildfire which burned out of control on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders.
GERMANY: A woman shields herself with an umbrella on Alexanderplatz square in Berlin amid a storm on Thursday
Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos.
By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts.
Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support.
Emergency services issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island's main town.
Apocalyptic scenes captured in images and videos showed firefighters battling the flames as the wildfires raged on, while thick plumes of black smoke filled the sky.
Other videos showed helicopters spraying water over smoke-filled fields.
Temperatures are also soaring over 40 degrees in Italy, the Balkans and Turkey.
A motorway in Northern Italy was closed as burning temperatures caused roads to melt, local media reported.
Italy's health ministry warned residents and tourists on Friday of soaring temperatures across the country, and issued a red alert for 21 cities this weekend - including Rome, Milan and Venice.
People were advised to not go outdoors between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places.