Latest news with #Iberian
Observer
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Observer
Heatwave across the Med sparks health and fire warnings
PARIS: Southern European countries braced on Friday for a punishing weekend heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit up to 40 degrees Celsius and beyond, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires. The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather, including longer and more intense heatwaves. Tens of millions of people have already been sweltering in what the National Weather Service called an "extremely dangerous" heatwave across the eastern United States, including in New York and Washington, straining the power grid as people cranked up air conditioning. Across the Atlantic in Spain, emergency medical staff readied to deal with an expected 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 Saturday, with temperatures passing 40 °C 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 42 °C 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. France has been gripped by its 50th national heatwave since 1947 for more than a week now and four regions in southern France were placed under an orange alert on Friday — the second-highest warning — as temperatures were expected to reach 35 °C to 38 °C locally and up to 39 °C inland. The Meteo France weather agency said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an "aggravating factor" that could make nights "more stifling". Nine additional French regions are expected to be placed on orange alert from 12:00 pm on Saturday. In Italy, the health ministry issued its top red alert for 21 cities this weekend including the capital Rome, the economic powerhouse Milan and Venice, where the rich and famous were celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. People were advised not to go outdoors between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm; and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places. In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37 °C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36 °C on Sunday in Rome, Milan and Naples. Across the Adriatic, the authorities in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also issued health warnings, while in Albania, firefighters battled on Thursday to bring at least eight blazes under control after flames destroyed dozens of homes in the south of the country last weekend. — AFP
Bangkok Post
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Bangkok Post
Heatwave across Mediterranean sparks fire warnings
PARIS - Southern European countries braced on Friday for a punishing weekend heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and beyond, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires. The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather, including longer and more intense heatwaves. Tens of millions of people have already been sweltering in what the National Weather Service called an 'extremely dangerous' heatwave across the eastern United States, including in New York and Washington, straining the power grid as people cranked up air conditioning. Across the Atlantic in Spain, emergency medical staff readied to deal with an expected 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 Saturday, 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. France has been gripped by its 50th national heatwave since 1947 for more than a week now, and four regions in southern France were placed under an orange alert on Friday — the second-highest warning — as temperatures were expected to reach 35C to 38C locally, and up to 39C inland. The Meteo France weather agency said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an 'aggravating factor' that could make nights 'more stifling'. Nine additional French regions are expected to be placed on orange alert from noon on Saturday. Warnings In Italy, the health ministry issued its top red alert for 21 cities this weekend including the capital Rome, the economic powerhouse Milan and Venice, where the rich and famous were celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. People were advised not to go outdoors between 11am and 6pm, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places. In Venice, the temperature was set to hit 32C on Saturday, when Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to be throwing a dance party starring Lady Gaga — but it will feel like around 36C due to humidity. In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36C on Sunday in Rome, Milan and Naples. Across the Adriatic, the authorities in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also issued health warnings, while in Albania, firefighters battled Thursday to bring at least eight blazes under control after flames destroyed dozens of homes in the south of the country last weekend. Further south, weather agencies in Greece forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40C, including in the capital Athens. The country has become particularly vulnerable to summer fires in recent years fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. Firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze around Athens, which came after another on Greece's fifth-largest island Chios that destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days.
Gulf Today
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Gulf Today
Heatwave across the Med sparks health and fire warnings
Southern European countries braced on Friday for a punishing weekend heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit up to 40˚C and beyond, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires. The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather, including longer and more intense heatwaves. Tens of millions of people have already been sweltering in what the National Weather Service called an "extremely dangerous" heatwave across the eastern United States, including in New York and Washington, straining the power grid as people cranked up air conditioning. A tourist with an umbrella walks in front of the ancient Propylaea temple at the Acropolis Hill. AP Across the Atlantic in Spain, emergency medical staff readied to deal with an expected 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 Saturday, with temperatures passing 40˚C in the south of the country as well as in the central Tagus and the Douro valleys in the north. A boy jumps in the river Treska near Skopje as a heatwave with temperatures around 40˚C hits North Macedonia. AFP 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 42˚C 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. A Sofia Zoo employee sprays water on Chiko, a white rhino, to cool him off during a heatwave with temperatures over 40˚C. AFP France has been gripped by its 50th national heatwave since 1947 for more than a week now, and four regions in southern France were placed under an orange alert on Friday — the second-highest warning — as temperatures were expected to reach 35˚C to 38˚C locally, and up to 39˚C inland. The Meteo France weather agency said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an "aggravating factor" that could make nights "more stifling." Nine additional French regions are expected to be placed on orange alert from 12:00 pm (1000 GMT) on Saturday. WARNINGS In Italy, the health ministry issued its top red alert for 21 cities this weekend including the capital Rome, the economic powerhouse Milan and Venice, where the rich and famous were celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. People were advised not to go outdoors between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places. Kris Jenner takes a picture of Khloe Kardashian and Kim Kardashian on a boat, ahead of the anticipated wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice. Reuters In Venice, the temperature was set to hit 32˚C on Saturday, when Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to be throwing a dance party starring Lady Gaga — but it will feel like around 36˚C due to humidity. In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36˚C on Sunday in Rome, Milan and Naples. A tourist drinks water during his visit at the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis Hill. Reuters Across the Adriatic, the authorities in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also issued health warnings, while in Albania, firefighters battled Thursday to bring at least eight blazes under control after flames destroyed dozens of homes in the south of the country last weekend. Further south, weather agencies in Greece forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40˚C, including in the capital Athens. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave for their pre-wedding reception in Venice. AP The country has become particularly vulnerable to summer fires in recent years fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. Firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze around Athens, which came after another on Greece's fifth-largest island Chios that destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days. Agence France-PResse
Local France
a day ago
- Climate
- Local France
Temperatures in France rise again as forecasts predict ‘historic' heatwave
Around 90 precent of France is set to experience very high temperatures in the days ahead, w ith only the Channel coast spared from the worst of the heat. READ ALSO Heatwaves in France: earlier, hotter, longer – and getting worse The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece has prompted health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires, and comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather. Orange weather alerts are already in place for the départements of Pyrénées-Orientale, Hérault, Gard and Vaucluse along the Mediterranean coast, with temperatures expected to reach 38C in places. READ ALSO Explained: How dangerous are French heatwaves? And national forecaster Météo-France has provisionally placed Var, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Haute-Corse, Ardèche, Drome, Rhône and Isère on orange alert for high temperatures for Saturday. Advertisement The heat will then spread further north and toward the centre of the country over the weekend, Météo-France warned in its latest bulletin, adding that orange weather alerts were likely to be extended to additional départements across the weekend and into next week. READ ALSO Flooding, wildfire and 50C cities: How climate crisis will impact each region of France It said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an 'aggravating factor' that could make nights 'more stifling' along the coast. Peaks as high as 39C on Saturday are expected as the heatwave beds in exactly six years to the day after Verargues, Hérault, experienced the highest temperature ever recorded in France . Many other stations in the south-east recorded highs exceeding 44C. The heat this time is forecast to be particularly intense in the Rhône Valley, Provence, and lower Garonne Valley. READ ALSO 'Avoid iced water and air-conditioning on max' - How the French stay cool in a heatwave In the south-east, as well as the area between Bordeaux and Pays de la Loire, the mercury is set to reach as high as 40C on Sunday – with little respite in store for several days, experts say. Local temperatures this year are not expected to reach the absolute highs of 2019 – but local records may be broken and the national average is expected to hit a new high on Monday as the country swelters. READ ALSO In Maps: The five worst French cities to spend a heatwave in Forecasters predict highs of 42C in Aquitaine, 41C in from the Loire Valley to the Sarthe, and 40C in the south-east of the country on Monday. Advertisement Tuesday is expected to be a near-repeat of Monday, with temperatures hitting 40C as far north as the Centre-Val de Loire and part of the Massif Central, with night-time temperatures forecast to remain above 25C in urban areas, which could make sleeping difficult. READ ALSO 'Don't sleep naked' - How to get a good night's sleep in a French heatwave The heatwave will gradually shift north and north-east, with temperatures rising to between 38C and 40C as far north as Hauts-de-France, Champagne, and Alsace, while – further south and west – some relief finally starts to arrive from the Atlantic. This heatwave is part of a recurring and ongoing pattern caused by an anti-cyclone firmly anchored over the western Mediterranean, which blocks disturbances and promotes the rise of very hot air from the Sahara. The very hot conditions are likely to continue well into early July, as this pattern could continues. And, although a temporary drop in temperatures could occur in the middle of next week, medium-term signals point towards a warm July, with the risk of further heatwaves. Some medium-term weather models already predict another heat blast in the early part of the following week. You can find all the latest weather warnings, plus essential information and health advice for a heatwave, in our heatwave section HERE .
France 24
a day ago
- Climate
- France 24
Heatwave across the Med sparks health and fire warnings
The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather, including longer and more intense heatwaves. Tens of millions of people have already been sweltering in what the National Weather Service called an "extremely dangerous" heatwave across the eastern United States, including in New York and Washington, straining the power grid as people cranked up air conditioning. Across the Atlantic in Spain, emergency medical staff readied to deal with an expected 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 Saturday, 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. France has been gripped by its 50th national heatwave since 1947 for more than a week now, and four regions in southern France were placed under an orange alert on Friday -- the second-highest warning -- as temperatures were expected to reach 35C to 38C locally, and up to 39C inland. The Meteo France weather agency said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an "aggravating factor" that could make nights "more stifling". Nine additional French regions are expected to be placed on orange alert from 12:00 pm (1000 GMT) on Saturday. Warnings In Italy, the health ministry issued its top red alert for 21 cities this weekend including the capital Rome, the economic powerhouse Milan and Venice, where the rich and famous were celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. People were advised not to go outdoors between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places. In Venice, the temperature was set to hit 32C on Saturday, when Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to be throwing a dance party starring Lady Gaga -- but it will feel like around 36C due to humidity. In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36C on Sunday in Rome, Milan and Naples. Across the Adriatic, the authorities in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also issued health warnings, while in Albania, firefighters battled Thursday to bring at least eight blazes under control after flames destroyed dozens of homes in the south of the country last weekend. Further south, weather agencies in Greece forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40C, including in the capital Athens. The country has become particularly vulnerable to summer fires in recent years fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. Firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze around Athens, which came after another on Greece's fifth-largest island Chios that destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days. burs-phz/js © 2025 AFP
