If you hadn’t noticed, mainland Europe is presently suffering an unprecedented heatwave.
‘Unprecedented’ weather has caused certain countries to experience highs of over 40 °C, grabbing the media for some time now.
With temperatures much above average, people are finding it difficult to handle the severe heat of both the Charon anticyclone, named after the ferrymen of the dead, and the Cerberus heatwave, which was first and was named after the hound that guarded the gates of hell.
From France to Italy, Spain to Germany, people are doing everything they can to stay cool and hydrated, seeking refuge in air-conditioned buildings or finding shade under trees.
So, what are temperatures like at the moment, and what is each country doing about it?
Here is what you need to know.
Where is the hottest place in Europe?
According to AccuWeather, today, Athens will be the hottest capital city in Europe, clocking in at highs of an astonishing 37ºC.
Rome is finishing a close second at 36ºC, with Bucharest coming in third with 32ºC temperatures.
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This is unsurprising, as Italy, Spain, and Greece have all been experiencing some of the most severe temperatures Cerberus has had to offer, with the Foreign Office issuing travel warnings for Spain and Greece.
Hotest capital cities in Europe
As of today, the top 10 hottest capitals in Europe have forecasted highs of:
- Athens – 37ºC
- Rome – 36ºC
- Bucharest – 35ºC
- Marseille – 32ºC
- Madrid – 32ºC
- Kyiv – 26ºC
- Lisbon – 26ºC
- Budapest – 25ºC
- Paris – 25ºC
- Vienna – 24ºC
How hot will London get today?
Britons hoping for a heat blast will need to keep waiting as the UK capital is only forecasted highs of 21ºC.
How is the heatwave affecting each country?
Each country has been undertaking different efforts in its battle to keep its citizens safe from the heat, with some even experiencing dangerous spreads of wildfires.
Southern Europe is undoubtedly seeing the worst of the temperatures, with some places having hit north of 45ºC.
The Foreign Office’s advice remains that travelling to Europe is generally safe, but to check with your travel provider and follow the advice of local authorities.
Spain
Parts of Spain have hit highs of 45ºC this week, with Spanish authorities reporting that around 300 people have died due to the intense temperatures over the three weeks from June to July.
The Spanish island of La Palm saw 4,000 citizens evacuated as firefighters battled to control wildfires.
Italy
Southern Italy has seen some of the worst of the heatwave so far, with temperatures expected to climb to 48ºC on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia this summer.
iNews report that the Italian Weather Service predicts Sardinia will be at the heatwave’s ‘epicentre’.
Earlier in the week, Italy put 23 cities on ‘red alert’ for the extreme temperatures.
Greece
Greece has seen some of the worst wildfires during this period of extreme weather, with fires across the country often burning for days.
Firefighters utilised air-water bombers to combat blazes west of Athens, which prompted evacuations earlier in the week but is now contained.
A densely wooded area on the island of Rhodes is still alight, with firefighters struggling to control the fire, which has seen people forced to leave their homes.
Cyprus
A second heatwave is expected to hit Cyprus and much of Greece this weekend
Those flying into Paphos can currently expect temperatures of about 37ºC (98.6F).
According to the Cyprus Department of Meteorology the maximum temperature is expected to reach around 40ºC over inland areas and around 32ºC (89.6F) over the highest mountainous areas.
Croatia
Throughout Croatia, you can expect mid-to-low 30ºCs, with areas around Split currently the hottest.
The country will be hit by even warmer weather as the weekend approaches, but it is currently not included in the UK heightened travel advice.
Wildfires in Grebastica have also caused damage, and six people have died after storms tore through Croatia and the Balkans where strong winds and heavy rain hammered the region in the wake of the heatwave.
France
Temperatures have come down considerably in France since the beginning of the Cerberus heatwave, but an orange weather warning – the second-highest alert – has been issued for some areas along the Mediterranean coast. with Marseille currently at around 31ºC.
Paris meanwhile is staying slightly cooler at around 25ºC.
Germany
Those looking to travel to Germany should expect temperatures to rise in the country as well.
While Germany has not been hit with as extreme weather as much of southern Europe, the Bavaria region has recorded temperatures of around 38ºC.