Across Southern Europe – Health and fire warnings have been issued across southern European nations as a significant heatwave is set to push temperatures above 40C in some areas this weekend. Countries including Italy, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal are affected, with the Spanish city of Seville forecast to reach a scorching 42C on Sunday.
The intense heat is being driven by hot air originating from North Africa, which is now spreading across the Balkans to popular holiday destinations like Croatia. BBC Weather describes the heatwave as “very intense” for this time of year, noting that such high temperatures are typically experienced later in the summer, usually in July or early August.
In Spain, emergency services are on standby to manage an anticipated increase in heatstroke cases, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. Residents in Madrid have expressed surprise at the early onset of the extreme heat. Marina, 22, told Reuters, “It always gets super hot in Madrid, what surprises me is how early it’s happening – we’re still in June.” Another resident, Janeth, 47, remarked, “This year is extreme. Last year, at least you could go out at this hour, but now? No way. It’s intense, and people are drinking more water.”
Italian authorities are advising residents in several major cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, to remain indoors between 11:00 and 18:00 local time. Venice is currently hosting numerous A-list celebrities for the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez, adding another layer of concern for public safety. Alejandra Echeverria, a 40-year-old Mexican tourist in Venice, described the conditions to AFP: “There is no wind, a lot of humidity, we are sweating, and I’m suffocating at night.”
France has been experiencing heatwave conditions for over a week, with orange heat alerts – the country’s second-highest warning level – issued for southern regions on Friday. In Marseille, municipal swimming pools are being opened free of charge to help residents cope with the heat, and there have been calls in some areas for schools to close to protect students.
The heatwave’s effects are also reaching the UK, with yellow and amber alerts in place for parts of England this weekend. Temperatures in London could reach 35C on Monday, and the hot spell is expected to last until Tuesday evening.
Wildfires have already broken out in parts of Europe, notably in Greece, where coastal towns near the capital Athens recently saw homes destroyed by flames, forcing residents to evacuate.
While attributing individual extreme weather events directly to climate change can be complex, scientists affirm that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more intense globally due to a warming planet. Researchers at World Weather Attribution, who study the influence of climate change on extreme weather, estimate that June heatwaves with three consecutive days above 28C are now approximately 10 times more likely to occur compared to pre-industrial times.
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