How Europe’s heatwave is impacting Spain, Italy, and other popular holiday destinations
Meteorologists are warning temperatures will hit new record highs across southern Europe this week.
The latest forecasts show peaks of 44C (111F) on multiple days, with temperatures consistently in the high 30s and low 40s across the region.
The Foreign Office has issued extreme weather warnings for Britons travelling to Italy, Spain or Greece, advising them to heed local advice but that they won’t be compensated if they choose to cancel their trips.
The European Space Agency has also warned other countries, including France, Germany and Poland, will face extreme heat this week.
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It is forecast to intensify in the next two days and could last into August, the World Meteorological Organisation has said.
A new anticyclone, named Charon after the Greek mythological boatman who ferries souls to the underworld, is behind the heatwave.
So, what’s going on where you are heading on holiday?
Check the latest weather forecast where you’re going here
Pic: AP
Spain
The heatwave in Spain is still set to intensify, with temperatures predicted to reach 44C in the Guadalquivir valley near Seville.
It comes as wildfires continue to burn out of control on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma. More than 4,000 residents were forced to flee their homes on Saturday.
The fire has affected more than 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) of forest in the north of the island.
More than 300 firefighters, nine water-carrying helicopters and two planes are being used to try to extinguish the blaze.
Spain’s Aemet weather agency said the heatwave this week “will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean”.
The agency says it expects temperatures to drop sometime on Wednesday.
Italy
Hot weather alerts have been issued for at least nine cities in Italy as the country braces for record temperatures.
Highs of 45C (113F) have been predicted.
The alerts are in place for major tourist destinations including Rome, Florence and Bologna as well as Palermo in Sicily and Bari in the southeast of the peninsula.
Pic: AP
Italy’s health minister Orazio Schillaci urged people to take care when visiting tourist hotspots including Rome’s famous ruins.
“Going to the Colosseum when it is 43C (109.4F) is not advisable, especially for an elderly person,” he told Il Messaggero newspaper, saying people should stay under cover and avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 6pm.
Meteorologists have said Europe’s highest recorded temperature of 48.8C (119.8F), registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded in the coming days on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Power outages were hitting parts of Rome as electric grids struggled due to heavier demand from air conditioners.
Greece
Temperatures in Greece are predicted to keep rising this week before hitting highs of 43C (109F) in Athens on Saturday as a second heatwave hits.
Wildfires in two areas around the capital have triggered evacuation orders for at least six seaside communities and the Greek meteorological service has warned of a high risk of fire this week.
The first blaze, which swept through forest land in Dervenochoria 19 miles north of Athens, is still intensifying.
Another fire, which began in the village of Kouvaras 17 miles southeast of the Greek capital, has spread to the coastal towns of Anavyssos, Lagonisi and Saronida and forced people to flee their homes.
Pic: AP
The country’s weather agency says the heat won’t change too dramatically before Wednesday, with highs of 39C (102F) in the east and 41C (106F) in the west.
Pic: AP
But it predicts that from Thursday a new heatwave will engulf most areas of the country, with minimum temperatures reaching up to 43C (109F) on the mainland, 41C (106F) on the Ionian islands and 38C (100F) on the Aegean islands.
Tours of the Acropolis monuments have resumed normal opening hours after closing for three days during the hottest part of the day over the weekend.
Cyprus
Similarly to Greece, a second heatwave at the end of this week will bring temperatures of 40C (104F) to Cyprus.
Those flying into Paphos can expect temperatures in the early 30s, with Larnaca in the north slightly higher.
According to the Cyprus Department of Meteorology: “The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 40 degrees over inland areas and around 32 degrees Celsius over the highest mountainous areas.
“During Friday and Saturday the temperature is expected to increase further.”
Turkey
Temperatures in Antalya are currently the highest in Turkey at 39C (102F), followed closely by Adana at 37C (98F).
It is not included in the Foreign Office’s extreme weather travel advice, but a second heatwave is due to hit elsewhere by the weekend.
Istanbul, Turkey
Croatia
Similarly in Croatia, holidaymakers can expect temperatures in the mid-to-low 30s, with areas around Split currently the hottest. The country will hit by even warmer weather as the weekend approaches but is not included in UK heightened travel advice.
Wildfires in Grebastica on the coast caused damage last week.
Read more:
British holidaymakers are changing their plans as temperatures surge
France
Extreme temperatures are not expected in most of France according to the national forecaster Meteo France.
An orange weather warning, the second-highest alert, has been issued for some areas along the Mediterranean coast.
Temperatures are predicted to reach 34-36C around Marseille by Wednesday, with Paris staying slightly cooler at 29C (84F).
Poland
Storm warnings are in place across southern Poland.
Near Krakow, forecasters predict severe thunder and lightning as well as winds of up to 55mph (90km) and 2 inches (50mm) of rain.
Temperatures are set to peak at 26C (79F) on Wednesday following highs of 35C (95F) last week.
Germany
Forecasters predict temperatures will also rise slightly in Germany.
Highs of 25C (77F) are expected while yellow weather warnings are in place in some regions due to wind gusts.
USA and Mexico
Outside of Europe – southern US states and northern areas of Mexico are also experiencing heatwave conditions, with Phoenix in Arizona expected to surpass its hottest-ever temperature on Tuesday after 43.3C (110F) was recorded on Monday.
Soaring temperatures in California and other parts of the south are due to continue into next week.
Death Valley, California
The east coast has been hit by flash floods, with at least three dead in Pennsylvania, and storms in the Midwest have left people in Kansas and Missouri without power.
Several flights were cancelled and delayed around New York on Sunday, with Canadian wildfires still causing heat and air pollution issues in the north of the US.
UK
While Europe is sweltering, forecasters say there is a low chance of the UK having a heatwave this summer, with the country not seeing any hot summer weather until mid-August.
World
Ron Benjamin: Body of Israeli hostage kidnapped during cycling trip on 7 October found in Gaza, IDF says
World
Update given on health condition of Slovakia’s PM – as suspect in court over attempted assassination
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in a stable but serious condition as the man accused of attempting to assassinate him appeared in court for the first time.
Health minister Zuzana Dolinkova said further two-hour surgery on Friday “contributed to a positive prognosis” for the 59-year-old, who was shot five times at point blank range while greeting supporters in the former mining town of Handlova on Wednesday.
Pic: AP
However, although awake at the hospital in Banska Bystrica, where Mr Fico was taken by helicopter after being shot, his condition still made it impossible to transport him to the capital, Bratislava.
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Deputy prime minister Robert Kalinak has said there was no need to formally take over Mr Fico’s official duties.
The suspected gunman was tackled to the ground and arrested at the scene of the attack and the first assassination attempt of a European political leader for more than 20 years.
He has previously been named as 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, a former shopping centre security guard who also writes poetry.
The special criminal court in Pezinok, a small town outside the capital, Bratislava, was guarded by officers wearing balaclavas and carrying automatic weapons for his court appearance.
The media were kept at a distance. Pic: AP
News media were not allowed in for the hearing and reporters were kept behind a gate outside.
Officers had taken the suspect, who has been charged with attempted murder, to his home in the town of Levice on Friday and seized a computer and some documents, according to local media.
The attack sent shockwaves throughout Europe and raised concerns over the already polarised and febrile political situation in Slovakia.
Health minister Zuzana Dolinkova gave the latest update on the PM’s condition. Pic: Reuters
Mr Fico has long been a divisive figure.
His return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American ticket fuelled worries among fellow EU and NATO members over the country’s direction.
Slovakia had previously been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, but on taking office Mr Fico halted arms supplies to the nation battling invading Russian forces.
Thousands of demonstrators have repeatedly rallied in the capital and around the country to protest against his policies.
The bodies of three Israeli hostage taken by Hamas have been recovered in Gaza.
The remains were discovered in an overnight operation carried out by Israel’s military and intelligence agency Shin Bet, said chief military spokesman Daniel Hagari.
Itzhak Gelerenter, 56, Amit Buskila, 28, and Shani Louk, 22, were killed at the Nova music festival on 7 October, with their bodies then taken into Gaza by Hamas militants.
Ms Louk’s body was seen face-down in a pick-up truck travelling through Gaza in a video that was shared widely on social media after the hostages were taken.
Israel-Gaza war latest updates
Shani Louk
Itzhak Gelerenter
Amit Buskila
“They were celebrating life in the Nova music festival and they were murdered by Hamas,” said Mr Hagari.
He said their families have been notified.
“Our hearts go out to them, to the families at this difficult time. We will leave no stone unturned, we will do everything in our power to find our hostages and bring them home.”
The military did not give immediate details on where their bodies were found.
Ms Louk’s father has said the return of his daughter’s body to her family has been a form of closure.
Nissim Louk told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz his daughter “radiated light, to her and those who surrounded her, and in her death she still does”.
He added: “She is a symbol of the people of Israel, between light and darkness. Her inner and outer beauty that shone for all the world to see is a special one.”
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In November, the brother of Ms Louk told Sky News of their last phone call as his sister tried to escape Hamas.
Speaking about the video that was circulated online after she was taken, Amit Louk said: “I never thought I was going to be in contact with this type of video, seeing my sister in that brutal position.
“And just in that moment, the whole family just crashed.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deaths “heartbreaking”, saying: “We will return all of our hostages, both the living and the dead.”
Meanwhile, Professor Hagai Levine, a member of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, has said the recovery of the bodies is a “painful reminder” of those who are still in captivity.
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“We do not lose hope. We are preparing for the return of the hostages that are alive,” he added.
Israel has been operating in the Gaza Strip’s southern city of Rafah, where it says it has intelligence that hostages are being held.
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others in the 7 October attack.
Around half of those have since been freed, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a ceasefire in November.
Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza since the attack has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
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Gaza situation ‘a complete disaster’
Mr Netanyahu has vowed to both eliminate Hamas and bring all the hostages back.
He faces pressure to resign, and the US has threatened to scale back its support over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israelis are divided into two main camps: those who want the government to put the war on hold and free the hostages, and others who think the hostages are an unfortunate price to pay for eradicating Hamas.
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