Southern Europe Faces Intense Early Heatwave

An early heatwave is affecting Southern Europe, with temperatures soaring beyond 40C, raising health and fire warnings.

Southern Europe is bracing for an unprecedented early heatwave, as countries such as Italy, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal prepare for soaring temperatures predicting to exceed 40C over the coming weekend. The city of Seville in Spain is projected to reach a sweltering 42C this Sunday. Experts link the intense temperatures to hot air from North Africa, which is spreading across the Balkans, impacting popular tourist destinations like Croatia. BBC Weather has classified this heatwave as "very intense" for this time of year, noting that such extreme temperatures typically arrive later in July and early August.

In Spain, emergency services are gearing up for an influx of heatstroke cases, particularly among vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly. Marina, a 22-year-old resident of Madrid, expressed her concerns, stating, "It always gets super hot in Madrid, what surprises me is how early it's happening - we're still in June." Veteran local Janeth, 47, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the heat this year feels extreme compared to previous years.

Italian cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, are also feeling the heat, prompting officials to advise residents to remain indoors during the hottest hours of the day. "There is no wind, a lot of humidity, we are sweating, and I'm suffocating at night," shared Alejandra Echeverria, a tourist in Venice, reflecting on the challenging conditions. In France, where a heatwave has persisted for over a week, authorities have issued orange heat alerts for southern regions. The city of Marseille has responded by opening municipal swimming pools for free access as a way to alleviate the discomfort until the heatwave subsides.

Across the English Channel, parts of England are also on alert, with yellow and amber warnings issued due to expected temperatures nearing 35C in London by Monday. This heatwave is anticipated to persist until Tuesday evening. Additionally, wildfires have already ignited in various parts of Europe, notably in Greece, where coastal towns near Athens have been engulfed in flames, leading to evacuations. While it's challenging to directly correlate individual extreme weather occurrences with climate change, scientists assert that the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are increasing, becoming significantly more common than in pre-industrial times. According to World Weather Attribution, June heatwaves featuring three consecutive days above 28C are now approximately ten times more likely to occur.