European heatwave - latest updates as red alerts and record temperatures continue

Authorities warn of heightened risk of fires from today

Huge wildfire rages on La Palma forcing thousands to evacuate

Firefighters battled a blaze in Rhodes as a new heatwave loomed over Greece, threatening to stoke tinderbox conditions across the country.

Greek meteorological service had warned of a heightened risk of fires from Thursday, as the country recovered from the first major heatwave of the summer.

A second heatwave was forecast to start on Thursday, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, and rising further on Friday to a maximum of 44C.

Thousands have also been evacuated in the Canary Islands and Switzerland in recent days, as southern Europe is gripped by ongoing wildfires and extreme heat caused by the fossil-fuel-driven climate crisis.

Fires are common in Greece, but hotter, drier and windy summers have turned the Mediterranean into a wildfire hotspot in recent years.

Temperature records were shattered in Rome and Catalonia on Wednesday as most of Italy’s big cities were placed under a red alert.

Key Points

• New heatwave looms over Greece
• How long is the heatwave in Europe expected to last?
• Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Charon?
• Second heatwave expected to hit Greece today

[19 July 2023 10:35 · Tara Cobham]

British family abandons £2.5k Greek holiday over blistering 40C heatwave

A British family abandoned their £2,500 Greek holiday three days early because of the unbearable Cerberus heatwave - saying their hotel turned into a "giant oven".

Sally Urwin, 49, and her two teenage sons decided to jet back from Rhodes after temperatures soared above 40C.

The trio landed on the island on 12 July and had been planning to stay for a week.

But the heatwave forced them to spend all day in their hotel, which became boiling hot, said Ms Urwin.

Josie Adnitt reports:

[19 July 2023 10:20 · Tara Cobham]

Germany debates need for siesta and cold footbaths amid sizzling temperatures

A public health group has recommended the introduction of siestas in Germany as temperatures soar in a sizzling summer heatwave.

Johannes Niessen, the head of the BVOeGD public health officers association, said Germans should follow the habits of people in the hotter climes of southern Europe.

"Get up early, work productively in the morning, and take a siesta at midday," he said in an interview published by the RND media network on Tuesday.

The World Meteorological Organization warned a heatwave in the northern hemisphere was set to intensify, increasing the risk of deaths linked to excessively high temperatures.

While Germany has escaped the kind of temperatures that hit southern Europe this week, it has sweltered in the mid-30s Celsius, with Bavaria seeing the country's record high so far at 38.8 degrees Celsius.

"People are not as efficient in strong heat as they are otherwise," Niessen said. "Moreover bad sleep in the absence of cooling in the night leads to concentration problems."

[19 July 2023 09:35 · Tara Cobham]

‘Extreme heat is major hazard’ warns WMO alongside global map

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that “extreme heat is a major hazard” as it releases a map by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts showing the heatwave gripping the world.

[19 July 2023 09:13 · Tara Cobham]

In pictures: Heatwave grips Europe

A Greek policeman evacuates a child from wild fire at the village of Agios Charamlabos, near the capital Athens (AFP via Getty Images)

People crowd a beach in Valencia, eastern Spain as a new heatwave hits the country (EPA)

A firefighting helicopter flies through smoke as people look on in Mandra, west of Athens (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

[19 July 2023 09:03 · Tara Cobham]

Beijing sets new record for most number of high-temperature days in year

Beijing logged its 28th day of temperatures of more than 35C on Wednesday, setting a new record for the most number of high-temperature days in a year, a milestone that was last broken just a day earlier.

In recent days, temperatures in Asia, Europe and the United States have shattered records, adding new urgency for nations around the globe to tackle climate change that scientists say will make heatwaves more frequent, severe and lethal.

As the sweltering heat baked the country's north and northwest, China and the United States - the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters - have been holding intense, marathon talks in Beijing this week on fighting climate change.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Tuesday that climate change was a global issue - "a threat to all of humankind."

[19 July 2023 08:15 · Tara Cobham]

Wildfires continue in Greece as EU allies send aid

Wildfires burned for a third day west of the Greek capital Athens on Wednesday, as authorities braced for a new heatwave stoking tinderbox conditions across the country.

At first light, air water bombers resumed operations over the towns of Mandra, west of Athens, and Loutraki, close to the Corinth canal which separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnese. Firefighters worked throughout the night to keep flames at bay and away from a complex of coastal refineries.

Four aircraft sent from Italy and France will join the efforts on Wednesday, authorities said.

The fire brigade reported that a third fire had broken out on the island of Rhodes.

Dozens of homes were gutted and hundreds forced to flee towering flames which seared through hamlets on Tuesday. Traffic was suspended for hours on two roads connecting the mainland to the Peloponnese. They were partially reopened early Wednesday.

The fire risk hazard was high throughout the country. "We remain on a level of high alert," said fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis. The Greek meteorological service has warned of a high risk of fires this week, just as the country recovers from the first major heatwave of the summer. A second heatwave was forecast to start on Thursday.

[19 July 2023 08:00 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Which holiday destinations will be hottest this week and how can you stay safe?

The Cerberus heatwave has been causing the mercury to rise across southern Europe since last week, bringing temperatures of 40C and upwards in some parts of the continent.

With preliminary figures showing Earth’s average temperature set a new record high on 13 July for the third time in a week, this new spell of hot weather will continue to impact holidaymakers – particularly those heading for the Mediterranean countries of Spain, Italy and Greece – as well as locals.

The heatwave has been caused by a combination of unusually high surface temperatures at sea and an area of high pressure over the Mediterranean, with the addition of clouds of Saharan dust in some areas.

If you’re currently on holiday in Europe or getting ready to depart, you may be wondering what you’ll encounter across the Channel. Here are the literal holiday hotspots that are predicted to hit the highest temperatures this week, plus tips on how best to avoid the punishing heat while you’re travelling.

Chris Wilson reports.

[19 July 2023 07:45 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Heatwaves to become more severe, say UN experts

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said heatwaves like the one hitting Europe currently will become more severe in the coming years due to extreme weather patterns.

“These events will continue to grow in intensity and the world needs to prepare for more intense heatwaves,” said John Nairn, senior extreme heat adviser at the agency.

Meanwhile, the EU’s emergency response coordination centre issued red alerts for high temperatures for most of Italy, northeastern Spain, Croatia, Serbia, southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

[19 July 2023 07:30 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Passengers pass out as Vegas flight stranded in 43.8C heat on tarmac

Multiple passengers passed out and had to be wheeled away in stretchers and some reportedly soiled themselves on Monday after their Delta Air Lines flight sat in stifling heat on the tarmac at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Passengers were first alerted to an issue as their flight sat behind over a dozen other planes preparing to take off.

The pilot informed passengers the plane would be turning around due to emergencies, according to a Fox News producer who was aboard the flight.

Those in the cabin were instructed to remain in their seats until paramedics could meet the plane. As the situation worsened, the Fox producer witnessed passengers faint and others soil themselves as the plane sat in the baking 111F (43.8C) heat.

Josh Marcus and Rituparna Chatterjee report.

[19 July 2023 07:15 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Met Office gives update on whether 40C heatwave would hit Britain

Any remaining rain in central and eastern England is expected to clear on Wednesday, giving way to a day of “sunshine and showers”, according to the latest forecast by the Met Office.

According to a Met spokesperson, the central and eastern regions can expect the highest frequency and intensity of showers. Wednesday is going to be “widely warmer than Tuesday”.

There are lower chances of the UK’s temperature climbing upto 40C after days of unsettled July weather.

Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said there was “no forecast signal” for temperatures to reach as high as 40C although a long-range forecast showed some heat returning in August.

Stuti Mishra reports.