Although temperatures in the UK have tipped over the 30 degree mark this week and this was the warmest June since records began in 1884, a number of countries in Europe are experiencing even hotter weather right now. Officials in Portugal recorded highs of 46C this week – as did its neighbour, Spain. And in France, thousands of schools have shut as a safety measure and red alerts have been issued. In other regions of Europe, there have also been wildfire outbreaks and freak weather incidents. So far, a total of three heat-related deaths have been reported across the continent’s mainland.
Here’s the latest travel advice and information you need if you are currently holidaying in Europe or you have an upcoming trip planned.
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The European countries experiencing extreme heat right now
Spain
According to Aemet, Spain’s principal meteorologist service, the “extremely hot” June surpassed the normal average for July and August – and it has since gotten even hotter. The country has already experienced record-breaking highs of 46C in the Andalusian city of Seville, with forecasts predicting 40C+ heat for the next couple of days. The city is also enduring minimum nighttime temperatures of 25C.
Portugal
Similarly, Portugal has seen blistering heat this week – with officials registering highs of 46.6C in Mora, a town just east of Lisbon. Not only has Portugal been subjected to formidable temperatures, there have also been freak rain showers, thunderstorms – and even a rare tsunami-like “roll cloud” (a type of acrus cloud that forms near thunderstorms), which was captured on video by beachgoers.
Italy
Seventeen of the 27 major cities in Italy have experienced a heatwave this week, including Milan, Rome and Trento in the north, where the mercury scaled to over 40 degrees. Many regions have enforced an outdoor working ban as a result, while other areas have been impacted by power outages. It’s also been reported that a 53-year-old woman died in Palermo, Sicily after fainting in the street. She is thought to have had a heart condition.
France
Meteo France has a number of red weather warnings in place – including for the capital of Paris, where the temperature was forecast to reach a sweltering 40C on Tuesday. Other affected areas include large swathes of the Loire Valley, as well as the Grand Est region – both of which are inland and have experienced heat that well exceeds 30 degrees. Nearly 2,000 schools have also been shut as a result of the hot weather. The rest of the country is largely under amber alert, while Brittany is currently the only region without any warnings in place.
Turkey
More than 50,000 people were evacuated as wildfire ravaged Turkey’s western province of Izmir. Giving an update on Tuesday, Turkish minister of agriculture and forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, said they had partially brought the fires under control.
The Balkans
Those in the Balkans have also witnessed record-breaking temperatures of over 40C, with Serbia encountering its hottest day since the 19th century and warning that drought could threaten harvests; tourists in Montenegro retreating to the cooler mountainous region of Durmitor in the north; and Croatia battling wildfires like Turkey.
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