Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads

Southern Europe is currently experiencing an unusually early and intense heatwave, with several countries issuing health and fire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas this weekend. Italy, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal are among the nations most affected, and the Spanish city of Seville is forecast to reach a scorching 42 degrees on Sunday. The heatwave is being driven by hot air moving up from North Africa, spreading across the Balkans and reaching popular holiday destinations like Croatia. According to BBC Weather, this level of heat is very intense for June, as such high temperatures are usually only seen in July or August.

In Spain, emergency services are on high alert, prepared to respond to a possible increase in heatstroke cases, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions. Residents in Madrid have expressed surprise at how early the extreme heat has arrived this year. One young woman noted that while Madrid is always hot, it is unusual for it to be this intense in June. Another resident mentioned that last year it was still possible to go outside during the day, but now it is simply too hot, and people are drinking much more water to stay hydrated.

Italian authorities are advising people in cities like Rome, Milan, and Venice to stay indoors between 11 am and 6 pm to avoid the worst of the heat. Tourists in Venice have described the conditions as stifling, with no wind and high humidity making it difficult to sleep at night. In France, the heatwave has persisted for over a week, and orange heat alerts—the second-highest warning level—have been issued for southern regions. In Marseille, local swimming pools are being opened to the public free of charge until the heatwave ends, and there are calls in some areas for schools to close to protect students' health.

The United Kingdom is also expected to experience high temperatures this weekend, with London possibly reaching 35 degrees Celsius on Monday. The heatwave is predicted to last until Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, wildfires have already broken out in parts of Europe, including coastal towns near Athens in Greece. While it is difficult to directly link any single extreme weather event to climate change, scientists say that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of global warming. Researchers from World Weather Attribution have found that June heatwaves with three consecutive days above 28 degrees are now about ten times more likely to occur than they were before the industrial era. As Southern Europe faces this challenging period, authorities are urging people to take precautions, stay hydrated, and avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun.