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Tag: Cerberus heatwave

  • Saharan heatwave surpasses 40ºC, making it the hottest site in Europe 40ºC

    Saharan heatwave surpasses 40ºC, making it the hottest site in Europe 40ºC

    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.

  • Saharan weather system puts Italy on high alert

    Saharan weather system puts Italy on high alert

    As the Cerberus heatwave continues to engulf the continent, temperatures in Europe could surpass records in the ensuing days.

    With maximum temperatures reaching 37°C in Italy today, 39°C in Spain, 40°C in Cyprus, and 45°C in Greece this weekend, the heat is intensifying.

    Rome, Bologna, and Florence are among the ten Italian cities that have been placed on red alert.

    Spain also recorded its highest-ever land temperatures at 60°C on Saturday.

    Italian politician Nicola Fratoianni tweeted: ‘We are facing an unbearable heatwave.

    ‘Maybe it’s the case that in the hottest hours all the useful precautions are taken to avoid tragedies like the one that happened today in Lodi.’

    It was reported by local media that a man aged 44 collapsed in the town of Lodi, near Milan, due to the heat. He was taken to hospital and later died.

    And storms in the northern Lombardy region ripped roofs off buildings, knocked down trees and caused severe flooding.

    More than 200 firefighters were called to emergencies in Milan, near Lake Como and in the Alps.

    Meanwhile in Greece, with the extreme temperatures expected to reach 45°C, the government is taking measures to protect citizens.

    People are currently banned from entering nature reserves and forests due to the risk of wildfires, and air-conditioned areas are being opened in public areas so people can escape the heat.

    Working animals – such as horses and donkeys offering rides to tourists – will not be allowed to work while temperatures are between 35°C and 39°C in the shade between midday and 5pm, and if temperatures exceed that they will not be allowed to work at all.

    Spain reached temperatures of 45°C on Monday and more than 100 weather stations registered temperatures of at least 35°C as early as 6am yesterday.

    The heatwave has been named after Cerberus – the three-headed dog from Greek mythology which guards the gates to the underworld.

    Meteorologist Stefano Rossi told Italian outlet La Stampa: ‘Metaphorically, the three heads indicate the three main climatic zone into which Italy will be divided.’

    Pictures show British tourists struggling in the heat, resting under trees and using their shirts as parasols.

    But forecasters have confirmed the UK will be spared the extreme temperatures.

    Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: ‘The heatwave conditions which are affecting parts of south west Europe and north west Africa are expected to extend eastward.

    ‘Much higher than average temperatures are also likely at times further north across Europe, but these will be shorter lived and less impactful.

    ‘Communities in the affected regions should expect health impacts and the potential for wildfires.’

    Scientists recently revealed heat-related deaths soared to 61,000 across Europe in 2022, which was the continent’s hottest-ever summer.

    The Mediterranean region is expected to see temperatures rise faster than most areas across the world due to climate change.

  • Southern Europe experiencing extreme heat as Italy prepares for record high temperatures

    Southern Europe experiencing extreme heat as Italy prepares for record high temperatures

    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.