Temperatures of around 40 degrees during the day and 30 degrees at night make life difficult for people in large parts of southern Europe. In the meantime, there has been relaxation in some places – for example in southern Spain, where temperatures fell below 40 degrees on Saturday. Other countries such as Greece recorded local highs of up to 44 degrees. In western Turkey, 48 people were hospitalized for heat stroke. And Bulgarian and Italian meteorologists are already warning of the next wave next week.
Greece is at the peak of the current heat wave – 87 weather stations in the country recorded values over 40 degrees on Friday. The highest temperature of the year so far was 44.2 degrees in Thebes, around 50 kilometers northwest of Athens, as the National Observatory announced on Saturday. The meteorologists did not expect the heat to drop over the weekend either. In addition, the danger of forest fires increases due to the high drought, warned the civil defense and the fire brigade on Saturday.
Heat in Italy and Spain
In Italy, on the other hand, it remained bearable at around 35 degrees. From next week, however, the “Caronte” high pressure area could set record values, according to meteorologists. In the big cities, over 40 degrees are forecast – in parts of Sardinia up to 47 degrees, in Sicily possibly even 48 degrees. Emergency doctors and hospitals are already preparing for the heat wave. Because these high daytime temperatures are extremely strenuous and extremely dangerous, especially for the elderly, sick and small children.
The south of Spain has also been suffering from extreme heat for days. In parts of Andalusia, the maximum daily temperatures were repeatedly above 40 degrees. At night there is hardly any cooling, because even then it is still 30 degrees hot in places. In the early morning it is “coolest” at about 25 degrees. And according to the National Weather Service Aemet, the next heat wave is already on the way: More than 40 degrees were expected in Córdoba again on Monday. Even on Mallorca – as the favorite holiday island of the Germans – people work up a sweat. For Tuesday, 40 degrees are also possible in the interior of the island.
In Turkey, the west coast is particularly affected by the heat. According to the Anadolu news agency, 48 people with heat stroke were treated in hospitals there on Saturday. The Kandilli Observatory in Istanbul advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid being outdoors. In the region around the city of Antalya, which is popular with tourists, the thermometer climbed up to 44 degrees.
Acropolis in Athens closed for lunch
The heat is also affecting tourism – for example in Greece. On Saturday, a number of archaeological sites were again closed over the midday hours – including the Acropolis in Athens, which no longer allowed entry at 11.30 a.m. and only received guests again from 5.30 p.m.
The heat even hit northern Bulgaria: After a brief relaxation on Monday, it is said to be extremely hot again there. Meteorologists expect values around 40 degrees. Even more worrying is the long-term forecast that the heat is unlikely to abate for the next two weeks.
Meteorologists from the affected countries repeatedly point to climate change as the cause of the heat waves. In the coming years, extreme heat waves with hot air from Africa are expected, for example in Turkey. In Spain, too, heat waves have increased in recent years, as reported by the local weather service. Spokesman Ruben del Campo has long warned: “One thing is clear: (man-made) climate change is increasing extreme weather events.”
