As the deadly Cerberus heatwave grips Europe, another is expected, and temperatures in Italy are expected to be at their highest ever.
The scorching heatwave, which was called after the three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell in Greek mythology, has already claimed the life of one man in the country’s north.
The European Space Agency warned that Italy is experiencing “a major heatwave” and that temperatures on Sicily and Sardinia could reach 48°C, which would be among the warmest readings ever recorded in Europe.
A second blistering heatwave, named Charon, is expected to follow on Cerberus’s tail, bringing yet more unbearable conditions.
Health authorities have issued a red alert warning for 10 Italian cities for the next two days, including Rome, Florence and Bologna.
‘Heat is a silent killer. So this is the main concern that people’s lives are at risk,’ said climate scientist Hannah Cloke.
Emergency measures have also been introduced for workers in Greece and devastating wildfires have spread across Croatia.
British tourists going on holiday in the Mediterranean have been urged to take extreme care.
Live Feed
The second wave of the Cerberus heatwave is set to strike Italy in a few days time.
Sicily and Sardinia are expected to endure temperatures of up to 48°C over the coming days, edging closer to the continent’s record high of 48.8°C set in 2019.
Meteorologist Luca Lombroso, affiliated with Italy’s AMPRO group, warns, ‘Next week, we will experience an even more intense heatwave than the current one. Some areas in the central south will witness truly extraordinary temperatures.’
Lombroso also predicts that Rome and Florence will likely exceed 40 degrees Celsius between Tuesday and Wednesday, with similar conditions approaching the northern regions.
Meanwhile, in Greece, the government has taken swift action to combat the scorching temperatures. Work has been suspended between midday and 5 pm in areas facing a high risk of heat-related issues. Additionally, private sector employees with health conditions have been advised to work remotely.
To mitigate the risk of wildfires, access to nature reserves and forests has been strictly prohibited by authorities. These measures aim to safeguard the environment and ensure public safety in the face of the impending heatwave.
Spain has experienced two blistering heatwaves so far this summer, with highs of up to 60C reported in some parts of the country.
But forecasters say yet another heatwave is still on the horizon, with the hottest weather still yet to come.
The Aemet state weather agency expects the next prolonged period of hot weather is set to begin on Sunday.
A British family on holiday in Murcia have spoken to Metro about what it’s like to experience the heatwve first-hand. Read our exclusive here:
Greece has witnessed a staggering 52 forest fires in the past 24 hours, averaging more than two fires per hour.
These incidents occurred between 6pm yesterday and 6pm today, local time (4pm to 4pm, UK time).
The country’s fire department promptly tackled most of the blazes at their initial stage, as stated on their website.
As temperatures rise across Greece, courtesy of the Cerberus weather system sweeping through southern Europe, the situation becomes more critical.
This surge of fires serves as a stark reminder of the devastating wildfires that struck Greece last year, causing significant damage and necessitating evacuations in certain areas.
The risk of forest fires in Spain caused by the heatwave is considered to be ‘extreme’, Sky News reports.
Data from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service suggests that a number of wooded areas in mainland Spain and throughout the Canary Islands are at ‘High Extreme Risk’ of catching ablaze, with most of the country considered to be in moderate or very high danger of falling victim to forest fires.
In the Canary Islands, Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, is the area most at risk of forest fires, with Tenerife and Fuerteventura also displaying extreme levels of heat.
On the mainland, the northern coast has offered some respite from the beating heat, with some tourists cancelling their day trips to take respite from the sun in the cooling sea.