Heat in southern Europe – 48 degrees Celsius possible
It's getting hot in southern Europe - according to the space agency ESA, possibly hotter than ever since recording began.
In Italy, 48 degrees could be reached in the coming days, and temperatures are also rising in Greece.
A hot weekend is ahead of people in southern Europe: in many places, temperatures will rise to more than 40 degrees. According to the European space agency ESA, the highest temperatures ever measured in Europe could be reached in the coming days. 48 degrees are possible in Sicily. According to the authorities, the previous European record of 48.8 degrees was measured in August 2021 in Floridia, Sicily.
Italy has been suffering from the high temperatures for days. Because of “Cerbero” – the heat wave is named after the multi-headed hellhound from Greek mythology – the 40-degree mark was cracked in Sardinia and Apulia on Wednesday. For several cities, the Ministry of Health declared the highest red alert for heat. There is still no relief in sight: “Caronte” is to follow “Cerbero” with even higher temperatures. The high pressure area is expected to reach its maximum heat early next week – with temperatures of more than 40 degrees in Rome, Florence and Bologna, for example. In parts of Sardinia there are even up to 47 degrees.
In Greece, people are also preparing for extremes: In Athens, the thermometer is expected to climb to 41 degrees on Friday. The Ministry of Culture has instructed the managers of archaeological sights such as the Acropolis to temporarily close the visitor magnets for several hours if it gets too hot. Many communities keep air-conditioned halls open for shelter. Particular attention should be paid to the elderly, the sick and small children, it said. In addition, pets and strays should not be forgotten – they should be provided with sufficient water everywhere.
Up to 42 degrees in Antalya
In Turkey, too, the weather service warns of intense heat for the weekend. In the west of the country, the temperatures in the coming days will be up to ten degrees above the usual temperature for the season, in other parts of the country up to six degrees above normal. In the holiday region of Antalya, temperatures of up to 42 degrees are expected at the weekend. Temperatures of up to 40 degrees can also be reached in the regions of south-eastern Turkey that were destroyed by the earthquake in February. This is particularly bitter for the people there: many of them still live in emergency shelters.
In Spain, the second official heat wave of this summer is currently ebbing away. The Aemet weather service only issued the highest red alert for the south of Gran Canaria. On the mainland, however, it should remain very hot, especially in parts of Andalusia with temperatures of up to 40 degrees. The heat wave had previously hit people in many regions of Spain badly. The highest temperatures were measured at just under 45 degrees in Andalusia and Murcia, and the mercury column on Mallorca also temporarily exceeded the 40-degree mark.
In Bulgaria it is the first heat wave of the year: on Thursday the authorities announced the second highest warning level, orange – the hottest day since the beginning of the year. There are maximum temperatures of up to 41 degrees in Plovdiv and in Russe on the Danube. According to meteorologists, the heat wave should have the country firmly under control for around ten days. It remains more pleasant with around 32 degrees on the Black Sea coast.
Recommendation: Plenty of water and a siesta at midday
Doctors recommend avoiding the midday heat outdoors and preferably taking a siesta. Loose, light clothing is just as important as drinking enough water. Alcohol, on the other hand, does not go well with the heat – it therefore has a stronger effect at high temperatures and puts additional strain on the circulatory system.
The high temperatures are also increasingly reflected in the number of deaths: In the summer of 2022 there were more than 60,000 heat-related deaths in Europe, as a research team reported in the journal “Nature Medicine” on Monday. With 8,173 deaths, Germany had the third most victims, after Italy (18,010 deaths) and Spain (11,324 deaths).
Only recently, a global heat record was surpassed: According to the US platform “Climate Reanalyzer”, the average global temperature was above the previous record value of 2016 for a week from July 3rd – so it was the hottest week since records began.
