‘Heat storm’ hitting Southern Europe
Italy has declared red alerts for hot weather in 16 cities as meteorologists cautioned that temperatures in southern Europe would reach unprecedented levels in the next few days. Meanwhile, authorities reported that a forest fire was raging uncontrollably on the Spanish island of La Palma, resulting in the evacuation of at least 4,000 individuals.
Spain, Italy, and Greece have been enduring scorching temperatures for several days, causing harm to agriculture and prompting tourists to seek shelter. Adding to the heatwave, a new high-pressure system called Charon, named after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, moved into the region from North Africa on Sunday, potentially pushing temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in certain parts of Italy early in the week.
Meteo.it, the Italian weather news service, issued a warning on Sunday, stating, “We must brace ourselves for a severe heatwave that will cover the entire country day after day.” They also cautioned that ancient heat records could be shattered in some areas.
In response to the extreme temperatures, Greece temporarily closed the ancient Acropolis during the hottest part of the day on Friday to protect visitors. Italy’s Health Minister, Orazio Schillaci, expressed concern about the situation in Rome and advised people to take precautions. He discouraged visiting the Colosseum when temperatures reach 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit), particularly for the elderly, and suggested staying indoors during the hottest period of the day, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Health alerts were issued across various regions in Italy, including the capital city of Rome, Florence in central Italy, Palermo in Sicily, and Bari in the southeastern part of the country. In Spain, forecasters warned about the risk of forest fires and anticipated difficulty sleeping during the night, with temperatures not expected to drop below 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) nationwide.
The heatwave is expected to escalate on Monday, with forecasters predicting temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Guadalquivir valley near Seville, in southern Spain. Meteorologists have also indicated that Europe’s highest recorded temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit), recorded in Sicily two years ago, could be surpassed in the coming days, particularly on the Italian island of Sardinia.
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