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Europeans seek shade as heatwave grips much of the continent
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A second heatwave is expected to hit Italy next week as Cerberus is swiftly followed by heatwave Cheron, named after the ferryman to the underworld in Greek mythology.
According to La Repubblica, the heat expected this weekend could be trumped by 12C in the following days, particularly for Tuscany and Lazio.
It comes as Greece introduced emergency measures for workers, and zoo animals in Madrid were fed fruit popsicles, as a deadly heatwave grips large parts of Mediterranean Europe with temperatures forecast to break all-time records.
The Cerberus heatwave is set to get worse over the weekend with the mercury expected reach as high as 45C in parts of Greece, Spain and Italy.
The Greek government has changed hours for workers to avoid the midday heat, as temperatures could top 44C there in the days to come.
Spain is expected to see 45C over the weekend with satellite data from the European space agency showing ground temperatures, which are different from air temperatures, reaching 60C.
There is also extreme heat in the US, and you can follow the blog for that here.
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Key Points Second heatwave Charon to hit Italy after Cerberus leaves Europe sweltering European Space Agency releases heat map as Europe braces for sweltering month Poland in drought after heatwave Met Office has not predicted summer heatwave for UK Cerberus heatwave threatens new record temperatures for Europe
Show latest update 1689334236 Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe
The temperature of the ground in some areas of Spain has hit more than 60C during the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe, satellite recordings have shown.
It was so hot that a heat map that highlights scorching temperatures in red turned even darker – to black.
Temperature records have been broken on most of the continent, including France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, where highs of 40C were recorded again on Wednesday.
Sicily and Sardinia were forecast to be as high as 48C.
Land temperatures in Spain surpass record 60C in deadly heatwave Ground so hot that fiery red areas on map turn black
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 12:30
1689332436 Istanbul sizzles with temperatures in the high 30s
Istanbul's temperature is 33 degrees Celsius, according to weather data.
Authorities warned that citizens over the age of 65, those with blood pressure and chronic diseases should not go out unless necessary.
(EPA)
(EPA)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 12:00
1689330936 Greece briefly shuts Acropolis site to protect tourists from heatwave
Greece will shut the ancient Acropolis for a few hours on Friday to protect visitors to one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites from a heatwave enveloping Athens and other countries in southern Europe.
The Acropolis Hill, home to the Parthenon temple that is visited by millions of tourists every year, will be closed from noon to 5 p.m. (0900 GMT-1400 GMT) on Friday, authorities said.
Greece’s meteorological service forecast temperatures peaking at 41 Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) in Athens by midday, but the mercury on the Acropolis Hill that overlooks the Greek capital is usually higher due to its altitude and lack of shade.
Hellenic Red Cross workers handed out bottles of water to tourists forming long queues, and fanning themselves under the shade of olive trees before the Acropolis entrance, before the famed monument was temporarily closed.
Southern Europe is sweltering under a fierce heatwave, with a warning that temperatures could hit record highs for the continent next week, raising fears about the impact on human health, crops and animals.
(EPA)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 11:35
1689329653 Second heatwave Charon to hit Italy
A second heatwave is expected to hit Italy next week as Cerberus is swiftly followed by heatwave Cheron, named after the ferryman to the underworld in Greek mythology.
According to La Repubblica, the heat expected this weekend could be trumped by 12C in the following days, particularly for Tuscany and Lazio.
Antonio Sanò , founder of the iLMeteo.it told the Italian publication that Charon may break many heat records.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 11:14
1689325236 Cerberus heatwave: Why UK weather is wet and windy as Europe swelters
A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe with temperatures forecast to shatter records in the coming days stands in complete contrast to the weather faced by the United Kingdom that has had wet and windy conditions continuing this week.
As the UK gets prolonged showers – the Met Office predicts unsettled conditions to continue for the next few days – the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.
Temperatures are expected to go beyond 40C in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey in the next few days.
And in Italy, they could go up to a searing 48.8C, predicted the country’s weather agency, as Wednesday temperatures there stood at 40C again and prompted a red alert warning for 10 cities, including Rome and Florence.
Why UK weather is wet and windy as Europe swelters under Cerberus heatwave As Europe grapples with extreme temperatures, experts explain what’s driving the UK’s contrasting weather
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 10:00
1689323679 In pictures: Wildfires tear through Croatia’s coastal towns
Towns in Croatia were evacuated on Thursday after wildfires tore through the country as a result of the Cerberus heatwave.
Pictures show volunteers trying to put out the blaze in teh coastal town, Grebastica.
(AP)
(AP)
(REUTERS)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 09:34
1689322127 Tourists struggle to stay cool in Athens as temperatures soar
Tourists in central Athens huddled under mist machines and zoo animals in Madrid were fed fruit popsicles Thursday as southern Europeans suffered through a heat wave that was projected to get much worse heading into the weekend.
Temperatures in parts of Mediterranean Europe were forecast to reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 F) starting Friday.
The high-pressure system affecting the region, which crossed the Mediterranean from north Africa, has been named Cerberus after the three-headed dog in ancient Greek mythology who guarded the gates to the underworld.
Officials in several countries were preparing emergency measures, cellphone alerts and adjustments to staffing levels.
In Athens and other Greek cities, working hours were changed for the public sector and many businesses to avoid the midday heat, while air-conditioned areas were opened to the public.
Cerberus is being tracked by the European Space Agency, which warned that the heat wave will also be felt in parts of northern Europe.
“Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heat wave, with temperatures expected to climb to 48 degrees Celsius on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia - potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe” the agency said Thursday.
People cool off from a water spray device amid high temperatures in Athen
(EPA)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 09:08
1689319647 UK weather: Met Office issues two yellow warnings as Britons brace for ‘unusual’ winds
Parts of the UK are under yellow weather warnings as “unseasonal” heavy gusts of winds are expected to bring disruptive weather over the weekend after days of heavy showers.
The Met Office has issued two yellow warnings.
The first is for heavy winds bringing “potential disruption” to South Wales and southwest England, which starts on Friday morning and will last till evening 7pm. The second warning covers the eastern parts of England which is set to have an “unseasonably windy day” throughout Saturday.
“Two yellow National Severe Weather Warnings for wind have been issued highlighting the potential for impacts such as travel disruption to South Wales and southwest England on Friday and the south and east of England on Saturday,” the forecaster said on Thursday.
Met Office issues two yellow warnings as Britons brace for ‘unusual’ winds Heavy gusts of wind can impact public transport, damage trees and make driving conditions difficult
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 14 July 2023 08:27
1689316216 How Europe's heatwaves can get extremely deadly
The sweltering temperatures in Europe threaten a repeat of last year's extended heatwave, when the continent experienced its hottest summer on record.
Those temperatures led to an onslaught of devastating droughts and raging forest fires, and were driven by the human-induced climate crisis.
This year, the world has heated up more and El Nino – a cyclical phenomenon – is driving more heat across the world.
Last year the extreme heatwaves contributed to more than 60,000 deaths in Europe in 2022, according to a new report – a number much higher than previous estimates.
Here's what the report found:
Stuti Mishra 14 July 2023 07:30
1689313505 'It's like being in Africa': Tourists describe sweltering heat in Europe
Tourists visiting the Mediterranean are shocked at the sweltering temperatures.
"It's like being in Africa," a 24-year-old tourist Balint Jolan, from Hungary, told The Associated Press. "It's not that much hotter than it is currently at home, but yes, it is difficult."
Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heat wave, with temperatures expected to climb to 48C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia – potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.
The heat has prompted health alerts and advisories for tourists with one British citizen fainting in Rome earlier this week. A 44-year-old man was also reported dead in Italy.
Stuti Mishra 14 July 2023 06:45
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1/ 1Europe heatwave: Second heatwave Charon to hit Italy
Europe heatwave: Second heatwave Charon to hit Italy
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