Europe heatwave 2023 – live: Red alerts for 16 cities as blistering 40C heat grips continent

Red alerts for extreme heat have been issued in 16 cities across Italy as the Mediterranean country and swathes of Europe are gripped by blistering hot temperatures.

Tourist hotspots Rome, Florence and Bologna are among some of the cities affected, with people there told to take extra care as the mercury climbs towards 40C amid the Cerberus heatwave.

Temperatures are set to peak at around 36C (96.8F) in most Italian cities, though Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia may reach up to 41C.

Next week temperatures are predicted to climb as high as 48C in Puglia,  Sardinia and Sicily as a second heatwave - named Cheron - hits the country.

On Friday Greece introduced emergency measures for workers and zoo animals in Madrid were fed fruit ice-lollies in a bid to cool them do.

The Cerberus heatwave is set to get worse over the weekend with the mercury expected to reach as high as 45C in parts of Greece and Spain with temperatures forecast to break all-time records.

Key Points

• Red alerts for 16 cities in Italy

• 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

16 red alerts issued for Italy

09:16 , Matt Mathers

Authorities in Italy have issued red alerts for 16 cities across the country amid a sweltering heatwave.

Bologna, Florence and Rome are among some of the cities affected, with residents there told to take extra care.

Temperatures could exceed 40C in parts of Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia, forecasters say.

South Korean rains death toll rises to 35

08:47 , Andy Gregory

In news of extreme weather elsewhere, the death toll from the heavy rain which has caused flooding and landslides in South Korea has hit 35 – as the bodies of eight more people trapped in a submerged tunnel were retrieved on Sunday.

The chief of the west Cheongju fire station said some 15 vehicles, including a bus, were estimated to have been submerged in the underpass in the city shortly after a levee of a nearby river was destroyed by the downpours on Saturday.

“We are focusing on the search operation as there’s likely more people there,” they told reporters. “We are doing our best to wrap it up today.”

The latest disaster is taking place despite South Korea’s vow to step up preparedness against torrential rains after Seoul was hit last year with floods caused by the heaviest downpours in 115 years. While the nation often experiences heavy rains in summer, it has witnessed a sharp increase in recent years.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central and southern parts of the country could receive as much as 300mm of additional rain by Tuesday.

Thousands evacuated as firefighters struggle to contain wildfire in Canary Islands

07:43 , Matt Mathers

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters struggle to contain a wildfire tearing through the Spanish Canary Islands.

The fire began in La Palma early on Saturday and has already destroyed 4,500 hectares (11,100 acres) of land and at least a dozen homes.

Officials said around 400 troops from various agencies remain on the ground tackling the blaze.

Authorities said some 4,255 people had been evacuated but that others were declining to leave.

Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave?

07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

With the summer heat upon us, it means that our homes may become uncomfortably hot, especially at night.

As it gets hotter, it can be tempting to open your windows to let in some fresh air when the weather gets too warm – but should you keep them shut instead?

According to NHS advice, curtains should be kept shut to keep sun-facing rooms as shaded as possible.

Laura Hampson reports.

Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave?

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters

07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

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.

Stuti Mishra has more.

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Acropolis midday closure leaves many tourists in the lurch

06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Disgruntled tourists bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens as Greek authorities proactively shut the world monument’s gates between midday and early evening.

Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long lines hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple as temperatures were expected to peak above 40C.

Some visitors were frustrated at being left in the lurch because they were unaware of Greek authorities’ last-minute announcement of the Acropolis’ closure. One visitor said he was disappointed as his cruise ship would depart later in the day.

“I even bought a €50 ticket to skip the line to enter and I couldn’t enter the place,” Hector from Mexico told The Associated Press.

Southern Europe to continue to reel under heatwave next week

05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Southern Europe will suffer from an intense bout of heatwave next week as well, as Italy, Spain and Greece continue to experience high temperatures.

“Temperatures will reach a peak between 19 and 23 July - not only in Italy but also in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans,” Italian meteorologist and climate expert Giulio Betti told the BBC.

“Several local heat records within these areas may well be broken during those days.”

The Italian government has issued red alerts in 16 cities and advised anyone in the areas to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 6pm.

Food production concerns as drought hits half of EU

04:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Nearly half of EU is suffering from a “severe” drought, the bloc’s official body has warned amid an ongoing heatwave that is predicted to push temperatures in Italy to 49C.

According to the European Drought Observatory (EDO), at least 42 per cent of land across the 27 member countries are under amber warning, which means the ground has dried due to lack of rain.

A new drought is building up around the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, and Germany, causing concerns about crop production, it said.

The agency only classifies Devon, Cornwall and parts of East Anglia in drought for the UK.

About 4 per cent of EU land is on red alert for drought, where crops and plants are suffering.

ICYMI: Death Valley may be about to record the world’s highest ever temperature

01:30 , Nick Ferris

Over in the US, a third of the population was under heat alerts on Friday as the merciless conditions continued to topple hundreds of temperature records from coast to coast.

In the west, Death Valley National Park could set a new world record for the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded while in Arizona, emergency responders were treating people for second-degree contact burns caused by sidewalks which have surpassed 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71C).

The intensifying heatwave across the southern US was mirrored around the world as millions of people in Europe, Asia and Africa contended with extreme, record-breaking temperatures driven by the climate crisis.

Click below for full story:

Sidewalks causing contact burns in Arizona as merciless heat impacts one-third of US

Showers in the UK set to continue for days to come

01:00 , Nick Ferris

The Met Office has predicted that unsettled weather conditions are to continue in the UK for the next few days – as the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.

Dr Melissa Lazenby, a climate change lecturer at the University of Sussex, explained earlier that the current placement of a high-pressure system located further south is the primary reason for this divergence.

“The current European Heatwave is being driven by stable atmospheric conditions from a stationary high pressures feature,” Dr Lazenby explained.

She added that while it is not possible to determine all the drivers and their exact contributions to the current heatwave yet, Europe is not “particularly affected by El Niño events directly”.

“Therefore it is likely the high-pressure system and climate change are the main contributors to this heatwave event,” she said.

“The UK at the moment is not experiencing the same high temperatures as the rest of Europe and that is mainly due to the placement of the current high-pressure system, which does not cover the UK and is situated further south,” Dr Lazenby said, “which provides stable atmospheric conditions for enhanced warming and resulting heatwaves”.

“If you are in the UK today, you will notice the higher winds which are not associated with a high-pressure feature and therefore not allowing conducive heatwave conditions explaining why UK temperatures are not anomalously warm like the rest of Europe.”

ICYMI: How climate change to blame for Europe’s heatwave

00:30 , Nick Ferris

Climate change is most likely the cause of a blistering heatwave gripping Europe, a meteorologist has said,

Chris England, a Sky News meteorologist, told the network: “Both southern Europe and the southern USA are experiencing extreme and potentially record-breaking heat at the moment.

“The immediate causes in both cases are long-lasting and fairly stationary high-pressure systems that are bringing hot air in and then heating it further through the actions of the sun and by compressing the air – a so-called heat-dome.

“Climate change would seem to be the most likely root cause of the excessive heat, although that will take time to verify.

“We are in an El Nino year, but that doesn’t seem advanced enough to bring significant global issues yet.”

La Palma wildfire “out of control”, says regional president

23:52 , Nick Ferris

A wildfire that has raged across 4,500 acres in the island of La Palma is “out of control”, Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo said.

More than 2,000 people have been evacuated, and officials warned residents the situation could worsen because a heatwave has made the terrain tinder-dry.

Clavijo said some residents did not want to abandon their homes and appealed for people to be responsible and heed the calls for evacuation.

He said that 10 aircraft were battling the fire and water-dropping planes are expected to arrive.

The wildfire and evacuations come nearly two years after a three-month volcanic eruption caused devastation on La Palma.

While nobody was killed, around 3,000 buildings were buried along with many banana plantations, roads and irrigation systems.

ICYMI: How to sleep during hot weather, according to experts

22:30 , Nick Ferris

The warmth of summer is usually welcomed with open arms, but we often forget how difficult it can be to get a decent night’s sleep when nighttime temperatures rise.

Nights can become even more uncomfortable during a heatwave, when temperatures meet or exceed the heatwave temperature threshold for at least three consecutive days, and are common in the summer.

Many may find these nights difficult, especially without a fan or air-conditioning.

According to Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a sleep expert at Silentnight, the optimal bedroom temperature for sleeping is between 16C (60F) and 21C (69.8F), and your brain needs to be slightly cooler than the rest of your body.

Read more by clicking on the below link.

How to sleep during hot weather, according to experts

Temperatures in Turkey hit the mid-40s

22:00 , Nick Ferris

In Turkey, the tourism hot spot of Antalya saw tempratures hit 44 C, while coastal cities in the south and southwest reached the high 30s and low 40s.

In the northwestern cities of Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdag, 48 people were taken to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat stroke in the past two days, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The heat wave also was taking its toll on water levels in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

The main water supply at the Omerli Dam reservoir, already at 41% capacity due to low rainfall, was losing 17,000 tons of water an hour during the early afternoon on saturday, Levent Kurnaz from the Bosphorus University told local media.

Temperatures hit 35C in Poland

21:30 , Nick Ferris

Authorities in Poland warned older adults in particular to stay indoors or in the shade and well-hydrated as temperatures reached 35C on saturday.

In downtown Warsaw, and in other cities, makeshift hose fountains were arranged to let people and their pets cool off.

Police issued warnings about not leaving children or pets unattended inside cars.

Poland’s highest ever temperature is 40.2C, recorded in 1921.

Benjamin Netanyahu tells people to drink more water, following hospital admission

20:44 , Nick Ferris

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed on people to drink water and act safely in the scorching summer, after he was rushed to hospital on Saturday.

The Prime Minister was seen by doctors for dehydration, after a day spent in the sun without a hat and without water.

Netanyahu, 73, is Israel’s longest serving leader. He has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office. His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December.

The US has also been hit by deadly heat

19:43 , Nick Ferris

Europe is not the only part of the world currently experiencing unusually high heat: Southern US states are also experiencing near-record temperatures.

“Near record temperatures are expected this weekend!” the National Weather Service in Phoenix, Arizona, warned in a tweet, advising people to drink plenty of water and to check on family members and neighbours.

In Las Vegas, emergency rooms have been treating more people for heat-related illnesses, reported the Associated Press, as the heat wave threatened to break the city’s all-time record high of 47.2C this weekend.

In New Mexico’s largest city of Albuquerque, many public pools were offering free admission.

In Boise, Idaho, churches and other nonprofit groups were offering water, sunscreen and shelter.

Greece under emergency measures as Italy braces for second heatwave

18:10 , Matt Mathers

The second “even stronger” part of the Cerberus heatwave, which has ravaged parts of Europe this week, is set to strike Italy in a few days time.

Sardinia and Sicily could see temperatures of 48C next week, which is approaching the continent’s record of 48.8C from 2019.

Wildfires are also tearing through Croatia, causing tourists and locals to flee the area of Grebastica, near Sibenik on the Dalmatian Coast. Propelled by strong winds, the forest fire has caused towns and homes to be evacuated as the blaze spreads.

Maryam Zakir-Hussian and William Mata report:

All of the Europe weather warnings: Italy braces for second heatwave as Greece melts

Floods, fires and deadly heatwaves are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink

17:10 , Matt Mathers

Our planet is careening into uncharted territory, while our governments continue to approve new multi-decade fossil fuel projects, writes Sarah Kaplan.

Read Sarah’s full piece here:

Floods, fires and deadly heat are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink

Heatwave across Spain and Italy leaves Brits abroad sweltering: ‘I don’t cope well at all’

16:10 , Matt Mathers

As temperatures top 40C, Britons are doing whatever they can to stay cool. Graham Keeley reports from Madrid on the extreme heat across Europe:

Heatwave across Europe leaves Brits abroad sweltering: ‘I don’t cope well at all’

Climate change to blame for suffocating heat - meteorologist

15:09 , Matt Mathers

Climate change is most likely the cause of a blistering heatwave gripping Europe, a meteorologist has said,

Chris England, a Sky News meteorologist, told the network: “Voth southern Europe and the southern USA are experiencing extreme and potentially record-breaking heat at the moment.

“The immediate causes in both cases are long-lasting and fairly stationary high-pressure systems that are bringing hot air in and then heating it further through the actions of the sun and by compressing the air – a so-called heat-dome.

“Climate change would seem to be the most likely root cause of the excessive heat, although that will take time to verify.

“We are in an El Nino year, but that doesn’t seem advanced enough to bring significant global issues yet.”

ICYMI: Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

14:32 , Matt Mathers

As temperatures soar across Europe, travel correspondent Simon Calder takes a look at whether it is safe to travel to holiday hot spots such as Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia.

With forecasters predicting the heatwave could last for up to two weeks, concerns are growing about the risks to health. As The Independent reported this week, 61,000 Europeans are believed to have died as a result of the extreme heat last summer.

For travellers contemplating their options, these are the key questions and answers:

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

150 firefighters tackle La Palma blaze

13:50 , Matt Mathers

The regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, said Saturday that, in addition to forcing the removal of the residents, the blaze has destroyed at least 11 homes within the relatively small burned zone of 140 hectares (345 acres).

He warned that the number of evacuees could easily increase.

"With the resources that we are deploying, we hope we can control the fire today, but the winds are shifting," Clavijo said. "More gusting winds are expected and, combined with the dryness of the terrain and the lack of rain, this situation is complicated."

Spain’s army has deployed 150 of its firefighters to help local crews battle the blaze. More local firefighters are arriving on boats from the neighboring island of Tenerife, according to Clavijo.

ICYMI: Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

13:20 , Matt Mathers

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.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Greece ‘like Africa’ as Europeans melt in deadly heatwave forecast to smash record

13:00 , Matt Mathers

southern Europeans suffer through a heatwave forecast to only worsen in the coming days.

Europe’s highest ever recorded temperature – 48.8C (119.8F) – could be breached in Sicily and Sardinia next week and Spain is expected to reach 45C, experts say.

Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Croatia have all been hit, and officials in several countries have been preparing emergency measures, including mobile phone heat alerts.

Jane Dalton reports:

Greece ‘like Africa’ as Europe melts in deadly heatwave forecast to smash record

ICYMI: Acropolis’ midday closure leaves many tourists in the lurch as a heatwave lashes southern Europe

12:40 , Matt Mathers

Disgruntled tourists bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens on Friday as Greek authorities proactively shut the world monument’s gates between midday and early evening amid a heat wave that continues to grip southern Europe.

Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long lines hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple as temperatures were expected to peak above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in the Greek capital.

Menelaos Hadjicostis and Lefteris Pitarakis report:

Acropolis’ midday closure leaves tourists in the lurch as a heatwave lashes Europe

Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe

12:18 , Matt Mathers

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.

Jane Dalton reports:

Land temperatures in Spain surpass record 60C in deadly heatwave

Forest fire in Spain’s La Palma island forces evacuations

11:47 , Matt Mathers

A forest fire in the Spanish island of La Palma has forced the evacuation of at least 500 people, authorities said on Saturday, in the first natural crisis on the island since a volcanic eruption on 2021.

The fire started in the early hours of Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area at the north of the island in the Canaries, as many European cities brace for extreme heat in the coming week.

At least 11 houses were destroyed as the fire advanced, Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands said on Saturday.

"The number of people who need to be evacuated could reach 1,000. It depends on whether we can bring these strong winds under control," Clavijo told reporters in La Palma.

About 140 hectares (346 acres) of land had been destroyed by the fire, he added.

Four helicopters and four firefighting units on the ground were battling to bring the fire under control in the island, which forms part of a Spanish archipelago off the coast of western Africa.

Authorities in the island were seeking help from other islands in the archipelago, such as Gomera and Tenerife.

Maps shows areas most affected by heatwave

11:15 , Matt Mathers

A map published by the European Space Agency shows the areas set to be worst affected by the Cerberus heatwave.

It displays the areas of Spain, Italy and other parts of Europe where temperatures are forecast 40C.

“Temperatures are sizzling across Europe this week amid an intense and prolonged period of heat,” the ESA said.

“And it’s only just begun. Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heatwave with air temperatures expected to climb to 48°C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia – potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.”

Weather warnings issued in the UK

10:57 , Matt Mathers

While temperatures soar across much of Europe, the weather is taking a turn in the UK with the Met Office issuing warnings for wind, rain and thunderstorms.

Forecasters say an Atlantic low-pressure will bring unseasonably strong winds, and heavy rain or showers to many place in the coming days.

National Severe Weather Warnings for wind, rainand thunderstorms have been issued highlighting the potential for impacts such as travel disruption to large swathes of southern and northern England, South Wales, parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “This is an unusual time of year for such strong winds and, with many people on holiday or planning outdoor activities, they are likely to cause some disruption.

“In addition, heavy rain and thunderstorms could lead to standing water and spray on roads and consequently difficult driving conditions. Winds are expected to ease through the evening.

“Temperatures are expected to stay near average or rather cool over the coming days especially in the rain and wind.”

52 forest fires recorded in Greece

10:30 , Matt Mathers

Some 52 forest fires were recorded in a 24-hour period in Greece, the country’s fire department said.

The blazes were recorded between 6pm on Thursday and 6pm Friday local time.

"Most [of the blazes] were tackled immediately, at their initial stage," a statement on the fire department’s website said.

Temperatures have soared across Greece as Cerberus continues to move across southern Europe.

Wildfires devastated swathes of the Greek countryside last year.

Italy's heatwave in pictures

09:51 , Matt Mathers

People stand next to a fountain at Piazza Navona in central Rome, on July 14, 2023, as Italy is hit by a heatwave

Visitors fill their bottles with water at a fountain in Rome, Italy

A man cools off at a fountain in rome

Two women use a fan to cool off, as they visit Trevi Fountain, during a heatwave across Italy.]

A woman shelters from the sun with a shirt near the Colosseum during a heatwave across Italy

Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

09:40 , Matt Mathers

Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere in the world may be looking with concern at planned trips to the Mediterranean.

As the busiest summer getaway since 2019 begins, travellers to southern Europe are likely to experience extreme heat. An area of high pressure appears to have settled over the Med with little sign of abating.

The deadly “Cerberus” heatwave (so named by Italian meteorologists) is gripping southern France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, as well as smaller countries in the Mediterranean region.

Here, travel correspondent Simon Calder looks at whether it is safe to travel to Spain, Greece and Croatia:

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

ICYMI: Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

08:30 , Matt Mathers

Much of Europe is experiencing a heatwave - but the weather is colder and wetter in the UK.

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.

Stuti Mishra takes a look at why the UK is not affected by Cerberus:

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Greece shuts Acropolis to protect tourists from heat

07:30 , Matt Mathers

Greece closed the ancient Acropolis yesterday during the hottest part of the day to protect tourists as southern Europe suffered in a fierce heatwave.

With temperatures peaking above 40C, authorities closed the Acropolis Hill, home to the Parthenon temple that is visited by millions of tourists every year, from noon to 5pm local time.

Huge crowds had earlier formed long queues in the heat to enter the site, many donning hats and fanning themselves, others drinking water and carrying umbrellas. The hill becomes particularly stifling due to its altitude and lack of shade.

One woman seated on the ground was attended to by paramedics after feeling faint, Reuters reported. Others were brought down from the Acropolis Hill in golf carts and transferred to wheelchairs.

The European Space Agency (ESA), whose satellites monitor land and sea temperatures, has warned that Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing extreme conditions.

Temperatures next week could break Europe’s current record 48.8C recorded in Sicily in August 2021.

Blistering heatwave continues

07:21 , Matt Mathers

More blistering temperatures are forecast for parts of Europe on Saturday as the Cerberus heatwave intensifies.

Forecasters say it could get as warm as 47C in the southern islands of Sardinia and Sicily in Italy, with 40C expected in Rome and Florence.

Parts of Greece, Portugal and Spain are also expected to experience temperatures in the high 30s and early 40s.

Greece ‘like Africa’ as Europeans melt in deadly heatwave forecast to smash record

07:00 , Sam Rkaina

Conditions in Greece have been compared to those in Africa as southern Europeans suffer through a heatwave forecast to only worsen in the coming days.

Europe’s highest ever recorded temperature – 48.8C (119.8F) – could be breached in Sicily and Sardinia next week and Spain is expected to reach 45C, experts say.

Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Croatia have all been hit, and officials in several countries have been preparing emergency measures, including mobile phone heat alerts.

“It’s like being in Africa,” said 24-year-old tourist Balint Jolan, from Hungary. “It’s not that much hotter than it is currently at home, but yes, it is difficult.”

Officials in Athens shut the ancient Acropolis for several hours on Friday to protect visitors as the Greek meteorological service forecast temperatures peaking at 41C in the city.

Floods, fires and deadly heatwaves are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink

06:00 , Sam Rkaina

The world is hotter than it’s been in thousands of years, and it’s as if every alarm bell on Earth were ringing.

The warnings are echoing through the drenched mountains of Vermont, where two months of rain just fell in only two days. India and Japan were deluged by extreme flooding.

They’re shrilling from the scorching streets of Texas, Florida, Spain and China, with a severe heatwave also building in Phoenix and the Southwest in coming days.

They’re burbling up from the oceans, where temperatures have surged to levels considered “beyond extreme.”

And they’re showing up in unprecedented ways, still-burning wildfires in Canada that have sent plumes of dangerous smoke into the United States.

Scientists say there is no question that this cacophony was caused by climate change – or that it will continue to intensify as the planet warms. Research shows that human greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from burning fossil fuels, have raised Earth’s temperature by about 1.2 degrees celsius (2.2 fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

Death Valley could hit highest temperature ever

05:00 , Sam Rkaina

Over in the US, a third of the population was under heat alerts on Friday as the merciless conditions continued to topple hundreds of temperature records from coast to coast.

In the west, Death Valley National Park could set a new world record for the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded while in Arizona, emergency responders were treating people for second-degree contact burns caused by sidewalks which have surpassed 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71C).

The intensifying heatwave across the southern US was mirrored around the world as millions of people in Europe, Asia and Africa contended with extreme, record-breaking temperatures driven by the climate crisis.

Click here for the full story.

How to sleep during hot weather, according to experts

04:00 , Sam Rkaina

The warmth of summer is usually welcomed with open arms, but we often forget how difficult it can be to get a decent night’s sleep when nighttime temperatures rise.

Nights can become even more uncomfortable during a heatwave, when temperatures meet or exceed the heatwave temperature threshold for at least three consecutive days, and are common in the summer.

Many may find these nights difficult, especially without a fan or air-conditioning.

According to Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a sleep expert at Silentnight, the optimal bedroom temperature for sleeping is between 16C (60F) and 21C (69.8F), and your brain needs to be slightly cooler than the rest of your body.

Click here for the full story.

Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave?

03:00 , Sam Rkaina

With the summer heat upon us, it means that our homes may become uncomfortably hot, especially at night.

As it gets hotter, it can be tempting to open your windows to let in some fresh air when the weather gets too warm – but should you keep them shut instead?

According to NHS advice, curtains should be kept shut to keep sun-facing rooms as shaded as possible.

The health service advises drinking plenty of fluid and avoiding excess alcohol, keeping out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and avoiding exercise during the hottest part of the day.

Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh, an expert in heat transfer in buildings at Nottingham Trent University, tells The Independent: “It is all about heat transfer. We need to reduce heat gain to inside the building in hot weather.”

Click here for the full story.

Heatwave across Spain and Italy leaves Brits abroad sweltering:

02:00 , Sam Rkaina

As temperatures top 40C, Britons are doing whatever they can to stay cool. Graham Keeley reports from Madrid on the extreme heat across Europe:

I came here for the sun after rainy Britain but this is a bit much for me,” says Peter Stevens, 73, a retired project manager from London who is staying near Barcelona.

Spain is sweltering in an intense heatwave affecting much of southern and eastern Europe, including tourist hotspots such as Italy and Greece, with the thermometer reaching beyond 40C (104F). Just like Peter, thousands of holidaymakers escaping this weekend’s wet and windy weather in Britain find themselves roasting under a high-pressure, high-temperature front currently sitting across the continent.

The heatwave, named Cerberus after the three-headed monster that features in Dante’s Inferno, has prompted warnings for both tourists and locals to take care, particularly when temperatures reach their peak in the middle of the day. “I am getting headaches after a few hours on the beach and must go home to the hotel,” Peter says.

Click here for the full view.

Paris Agreement global warming target ‘quite unlikely'

Saturday 15 July 2023 00:59 , Sam Rkaina

Dr Jesus Lizana, co-lead author of the report, said: “If we adapt the built environment in which we live, we won’t need to increase air conditioning.

“But right now, in countries such as the UK, our buildings act like greenhouses – no external protection from the sun in buildings, windows locked, no natural ventilation and no ceiling fans. Our buildings are exclusively prepared for the cold seasons.”

The study used 2,100 global climate simulations for mean temperature across three global warming scenarios – historical (2006–2016), 1.5C and 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Members of the United Nations signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, an international treaty with the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5C, but the report says this target is “increasingly out of reach”.

Asked about the Paris Agreement global warming target, Dr Khosla said: “I think the aspiration that we would stay within 1.5C limit is seeming quite unlikely. It doesn’t seem like we have any credible pathway.”

Warning over increased need for air conditioners

Friday 14 July 2023 23:59 , Sam Rkaina

Dr Khosla said: “Without adequate interventions to promote sustainable cooling, we are likely to see a sharp increase in the use of energy guzzling systems, such as air conditioning.

“This could further increase emissions and lock us into a vicious cycle of burning fossil fuels to make feel cooler while making the world outside hotter.”

She said solutions for these demands would have to be considered at different levels, adding: “At the policy level, it’s really important to think nationally about policy solutions in terms of resilience and adaptation, net zero strategies and the Heat and Buildings Strategy and how sustainable cooling can find its way into these high-level documents.

“At the level of the urban, it’s thinking about what kind of measures to put in place. Right now, the built environment in the UK is designed to keep the heat in, not out, and the building stock in the UK is one of the oldest in the world.”

Dr Khosla said natural or artificial shading, improving ventilation and reflective paint all represented alternative adaptations to air conditioners.

‘Preparedness is currently very low'

Friday 14 July 2023 23:00 , Sam Rkaina

The findings come as large parts of southern Europe have faced sweltering temperatures over recent days, brought about by the Cerberus heatwave.

Dr Radhika Khosla, associate professor and leader of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Cooling, said: “[The findings] are very significant. Because it’s a relative change, it indicates that the preparedness of these countries to be able to respond is currently very low.

“It has huge implications for public health and all sustainable development goals, including livelihoods, infrastructure, education, poverty and food and nutrition.”

The report concludes that there is now a “need for immediate, unprecedented and localised adaptation”, as small increases in global warming continue to be marked.

The energy required for cooling by 2050 is predicted to be equivalent to the combined electricity capacity of the United States, European Union and Japan in 2016, the report says, with air conditioners largely contributing to this output.

UK buildings must adapt without air con against global warming

Friday 14 July 2023 22:00 , Sam Rkaina

Buildings in the UK “act like greenhouses” and must be adapted immediately as the country faces extreme temperatures if global warming reaches 2C, researchers have warned.

But measures must not include air conditioning, which could lead to a “vicious cycle” of high energy consumption to make people feel cooler inside while making the world outside hotter.

Research conducted at the University of Oxford found, of countries with more than five million inhabitants in 2020, Switzerland and the UK would see their relative demand for people needing to cool down rise by 30%, as they would face a greater number of days with extremely high temperatures.

Other countries in the ‘Global North’, such as Norway (28%), Finland (28%) and Canada (24%), were also among the top 10 increases, while eight of those 10 countries were located in Europe.

Friday 14 July 2023 21:05 , Laura Sharman

The world is hotter than it’s been in thousands of years, and it’s as if every alarm bell on Earth were ringing.

So says Sarah Kaplan in her report on the alarm bells of a planet on the brink.

“The warnings are echoing through the drenched mountains of Vermont, where two months of rain just fell in only two days,” she writes.

“India and Japan were deluged by extreme flooding.

“They’re shrilling from the scorching streets of Texas, Florida, Spain and China, with a severe heatwave also building in Phoenix and the Southwest in coming days.

“They’re burbling up from the oceans, where temperatures have surged to levels considered ‘beyond extreme’.”

“And they’re showing up in unprecedented ways, still-burning wildfires in Canada that have sent plumes of dangerous smoke into the United States.”

Italy braces for second heatwave as Greece follows emergency measures

Friday 14 July 2023 20:33 , Laura Sharman

The second “even stronger” part of the Cerberus heatwave, which has ravaged parts of Europe this week, is set to strike Italy in a few days time.

Sicily and Sardinia could see temperatures of 48C next week, which is approaching the continent’s record of 48.8C from 2019.

Meteorologist Luca Lombroso, from the AMPRO group in Italy, said: “Next week there will be an even stronger heatwave than this one, some values in the central south will be really freaky.

“Between Tuesday and Wednesday in Rome and Florence, we will probably exceed 40 degrees, which will also be approached in the north.”

In Greece, the government has ordered the suspension of work between midday and 5pm in areas where the risk from heat is very high, and also requested remote work for private sector employees with health conditions.

Authorities have banned access to nature reserves and forests to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Greece ‘like Africa’ as Europeans melt in deadly heatwave

Friday 14 July 2023 20:07 , Laura Sharman

Southern Europeans continue to suffer the wrath of Ceberus heatwave, with weather conditions in Greece being compared to those in Africa.

Forecasters say the temperature is expected to worsen in the coming days when Europe’s highest ever recorded temperature – 48.8C – could be breached in Sicily and Sardinia.

While Spain is expected to reach 45C, according to experts.

Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Croatia have all been hit, and officials in several countries have been preparing emergency measures, including mobile phone heat alerts.

Two forest fires per hour in Greece under wrath of Cerberus

Friday 14 July 2023 19:32 , Laura Sharman

Greece has endured at least 52 forest fires in the last 24 hours, according to the country's fire department.

The blazes were registered at an average of more than two per hour between 6pm yesterday and 6pm today, local time.

"Most were tackled immediately at their initial stage," the fire department said in a statement.

Last year, Greece suffered devastating wildfires throughout its countryside which led to evacuations and widespread damage in certain areas.

Under Cerberus' wrath, the country has put emergency measures in place with temperatures of 44C forecast on Friday and Saturday.

Highest temperatures in Spain yet to come after 45C heat

Friday 14 July 2023 19:01 , Laura Sharman

Spain has endured two heatwaves so far this summer with highs of 45C on Wednesday.

But forecasters say another heatwave is on the horizon with the hottest weather still yet to come.

The Aemet state weather agency expects the next prolonged period of hot weather to begin on Sunday.

Large parts of the country also remain at risk of forest fires, particularly in the centre.

Las Palmas in the Canary Islands is most at risk, while Fuerteventura and Tenerife are also on high alert.

Volunteers in Spain bathe dogs in swimming pool to help them stay cool

Friday 14 July 2023 18:08 , Laura Sharman

Volunteers have been bathing dogs in a swimming pool to help them keep cool at an animal shelter in Spain.

Pictures show the team lifting the animals out of the water at the shelter in Malaga, Andalusia, which has been sweltering for days in temperatures of up to 45C.

In Pictures: Cerberus heatwave spreads throughout Europe

Friday 14 July 2023 17:39 , Laura Sharman

Further pictures emerged today of the latest impact of the heatwave gripping Europe.

The latest images show tourists forced to leave the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, which closed at midday due to high temperatures, and others cooling off at a beach 85 miles away in the town of Nafplion.

In Italy, visitors were seen filling up their water bottles at a fountain in Rome and using items of clothing to shelter from the sun.

While Spain is experiencing a short-lived respite from the heat which reached highs of 45C on Wednesday.

Europe is warming up “much faster" than other continents, expert warns

Friday 14 July 2023 17:10 , Laura Sharman

A scientist has warned that Europe is warming up must faster than other continents, especially in the north west.

Dr Leslie Mabon, Lecturer in Environmental Systems at The Open University, said extreme weather like Europe’s heatwave Cerberus will “only become more common” if emissions from fossil fuels aren’t reduced.

“To an extent, the European heatwave we are seeing in summer 2023 reflects what has been observed over the last few years in the science,” he said.

“Namely, that Europe has been warming much faster than other continents in recent decades, and that this trend is especially pronounced in north-west Europe – including the UK.

“A common theme across much of the research is that it is difficult to pinpoint one single factor that is responsible for making Europe warm so fast.

“However, we can be in absolutely no doubt that a critical driver behind this warming trend is carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.”

Italy warns residents from 10 cities to avoid being out in midday heat

Friday 14 July 2023 15:46 , Sam Rkaina

In Italy, the country’s health ministry on Friday warned residents of 10 cities from Bologna to Rome to avoid being out in the midday heat due to extreme temperatures.

The same warning has been issued to another five cities in Sicily, Sardinia and Puglia for this weekend. Temperatures in the country are expected to reach 12C above average in some areas this weekend.

On the island nation of Cyprus, in the southeastern Mediterranean, people clustered under air conditioning units and cooling fans set to full blast, as midday temperatures inland were forecast to hit a high of 43C.

Temperatures weren’t expected to go below 25C through the night, while humidity levels especially along the southern coastline were expected to reach an uncomfortable 65%.

The temperatures were forecast to hover at the same levels Saturday, with a small dip expected the following day.

The Forestry Service issued a “red alert”, appealing to the public to take extra care and avoid using any machinery outdoors that could spark a fire.

In the capital, Nicosia, more than two dozen elderly people sought refuge at a dedicated heat shelter the municipality reserves for summer heat waves.

Councillor Elena Loucaidou told The Associated Press that many of the elderly who are on low incomes appreciate the opportunity to save on their electricity bill and enjoy the shelter’s air-conditioned environs.

Yiannoula Phinikaridou, 78, was among them.“In this heat wave, it’s very helpful for us to come here, get refreshed with cold drinks that they offer us,” she told Cypriot media. “It’s very important for us low-income retirees to save on electricity.”

Tourists left frustrated after Acropolis closes as heatwave grips Greece

Friday 14 July 2023 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Disgruntled tourists have bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens as authorities shut the monument’s gates between noon and early evening amid a heatwave gripping southern Europe.

Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long queues hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple as temperatures were expected to peak above 40C in the Greek capital.

Some were frustrated at being left in the lurch because they were unaware of Greek authorities’ last-minute announcement of the closure.

“I even bought a 50-euro ticket to skip the line to enter and I couldn’t enter the place,” one man, who did not give his name, told The Associated Press.

Others who beat the closing time, like Sylvia from Colombia, were elated despite the heat, saying she came prepared.

“We have water, we have some ventilators,” she told the AP. “And I think it’s always an amazing experience to be here.”

Red Cross coordinator Ioanna Fotopoulou said paramedics administered first aid to a number of tourists exhibiting symptoms of dehydration and experiencing fainting spells.

What is extreme weather? | Decomplicated

Friday 14 July 2023 14:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

From flooding to heatwaves, wildfires to droughts, Earth’s weather cycles have shown signs of becoming increasingly more erratic, severe and prolonged, and though there is no blanket explanation for this change in weather patterns, human-induced global warming is a major underlying factor.

However, there is still hope that we can minimise the destructive cycles of extreme weather.So how exactly is this connected to climate change? And how can we lessen its impact?

Independent TV‘s Decomplicated series explains extreme weather.

What is extreme weather? | Decomplicated

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

Friday 14 July 2023 13:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere in the world may be looking with concern at planned trips to the Mediterranean.

As the busiest summer getaway since 2019 begins, travellers to southern Europe are likely to experience extreme heat. An area of high pressure appears to have settled over the Med with little sign of abating.

The deadly “Cerberus” heatwave (so named by Italian meteorologists) is gripping southern France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, as well as smaller countries in the Mediterranean region.

For travellers contemplating their options, these are the key questions and answers.

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Friday 14 July 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe

Friday 14 July 2023 12:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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

Istanbul sizzles with temperatures in the high 30s

Friday 14 July 2023 12:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

Greece briefly shuts Acropolis site to protect tourists from heatwave

Friday 14 July 2023 11:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

Second heatwave Charon to hit Italy

Friday 14 July 2023 11:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

Cerberus heatwave: Why UK weather is wet and windy as Europe swelters

Friday 14 July 2023 10:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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

In pictures: Wildfires tear through Croatia’s coastal towns

Friday 14 July 2023 09:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

Tourists struggle to stay cool in Athens as temperatures soar

Friday 14 July 2023 09:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

UK weather: Met Office issues two yellow warnings as Britons brace for ‘unusual’ winds

Friday 14 July 2023 08:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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

How Europe's heatwaves can get extremely deadly

Friday 14 July 2023 07:30 , Stuti Mishra

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:

'It's like being in Africa': Tourists describe sweltering heat in Europe

Friday 14 July 2023 06:45 , Stuti Mishra

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.

Temperatures to reach 45C today in Southern Europe

Friday 14 July 2023 06:14 , Stuti Mishra

Temperatures in parts of Mediterranean Europe were forecast to reach as high as 45C from today as a sweltering heatwave takes over the continent sparking health concerns.

Officials in several countries were preparing emergency measures, cell phone alerts and adjustments to staffing levels.

Weather maps from private forecaster AccuWeather show Spain hitting 37C on Friday morning with worsened conditions expected over the weekend.

Very high temperatures in central and southern Italy are also predicted for Friday, when the capital could see record-breaking temperatures between 40 and 45C.

Scorching earth, from Balkans to Spain

Friday 14 July 2023 03:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Health authorities issued a top, red alert warning for 10 Italian cities for the next two days, including Rome, Florence, Bologna and Perugia.

In Greece, the government has ordered the suspension of work between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. local (0900-1400 GMT) in areas where the risk from heat is very high, and also requested remote work for private sector employees with health conditions.

In the Balkans, beachgoers in the Croatian town of Nin smeared themselves in its medicinal local mud to protect themselves from the sun while 56 firefighters with 20 vehicles and three aircraft struggled to contain a brush fire near the Adriatic town of Sibenik.

Cloke said that the current heatwave was caused by hot air coming up from the Sahara, with the air mass then becoming lodged across parts of Europe.

Images captured by the ESA’s Sentinel 3 satellites had measured the land surface temperature at more than 60 Celsius in the western Spanish region of Extremadura on Tuesday.

Weather forecasts and official records are based on the air temperature which is significantly lower than the land surface reading. The record European temperature of 48.8C was registered in Sicily in August 2021 and that figure could be exceeded.

“Next week there will be an even stronger heatwave than this one, some values in the central south will be really freaky,” said Luca Lombroso, meteorologist from the AMPRO group in Italy.

“Between Tuesday and Wednesday in Rome and Florence we will probably exceed 40 degrees, which will also be approached in the north,” he added.

Animals are also feeling the strain.

Italian farmers’ lobby group Coldiretti said milk production was down by around 10% because cows eat less in the heat, drink huge quantities of water and make less milk.

UK must adapt its buildings for higher temperatures, say scientists

Friday 14 July 2023 02:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The UK is one of the countries that will have to adapt the most radically to cool down buildings as climate change drives up the global average temperature, according to a new study.

Like other countries in Northern Europe, such as Ireland, Switzerland and those in Scandinavia, homes were built to retain heat during cold winters.

But rising temperatures because of climate change means more unwanted heat during the summer, which can be fatal for older and more vulnerable people.

Danny Halpin reports:

UK must adapt its buildings for higher temperatures, say scientists

More than 113 million Americans under extreme heat alerts as relentless temperatures continue

Friday 14 July 2023 01:00 , Eleanor Noyce

More than 113 million Americans were under heat alerts on Thursday as stifling, life-threatening temperatures dug in across large parts of the country.

In the south and southeast, relentless, hazardous heat is expected to continue for at least another week after constant triple-digit temperatures in the past month.

A wide area will experience temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius), from a combination of heat and humidity, the National Weather Service reported.

Louise Boyle reports:

100million under extreme heat alerts in US amid relentless temperatures

Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe

Friday 14 July 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce

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.

Jane Dalton has the full story:

Land temperatures in Spain surpass record 60C in deadly heatwave

Will the UK see a 40C heatwave again this summer?

Thursday 13 July 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce

As temperatures continue to soar globally, many are left wondering if the UK will experience another scorching 40C heatwave this summer, similar to the year before.

Speculation is rife that the country will get a blistering heatwave this month as weather maps have shown conditions could become hotter in the coming days.

The summer in the UK has already begun on a hotter note, with June temperatures smashing all-time records.

Read more:

Will the UK see a 40C heatwave again this summer?

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

Thursday 13 July 2023 22:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere in the world may be looking with concern at planned trips to the Mediterranean.

As the busiest summer getaway since 2019 begins, travellers to southern Europe are likely to experience extreme heat. An area of high pressure appears to have settled over the Med with little sign of abating.

The deadly “Cerberus” heatwave (so named by Italian meteorologists) is gripping southern France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, as well as smaller countries in the Mediterranean region.

Simon Calder reports:

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

Cerberus heatwave: Why UK weather is wet and windy as Europe swelters

Thursday 13 July 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce

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.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Why UK weather is wet and windy as Europe swelters under Cerberus heatwave

Cerberus heatwave threatens new record temperatures for Europe

Thursday 13 July 2023 20:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Southern Europe sweltered under a fierce heatwave on Thursday, 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.

Weather alerts were in place across Spain’s Canary Islands, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, with the Greek authorities expecting temperatures to reach as high as 43C (109.4F) or 44C on Friday or Saturday.

Authorities put an ambulance on standby near the archaeological site of the Acropolis in Athens, ready to provide first aid to tourists wilting in the heatwave, which Italy’s Meteorological Society has named “Cerberus”.

The European Space Agency (ESA), whose satellites monitor land and sea temperatures, said July could be a torrid month.

“Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heatwave with temperatures expected to climb to 48C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe,” it said.

The impact of extreme summer heat has been brought into focus by research this week that said as many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe’s sweltering heatwaves last summer.

Governments and employers are under pressure to do more to protect workers exposed to the burning sun in the latest heatwave, named after the three-headed dog of the underworld in Greek mythology.

There are concerns about the impact on those working outdoors in Italy after a 44-year-old man who was painting road markings in the northern town of Lodi collapsed and died this week.

“Heat is a silent killer. So this is the main concern that people’s lives are at risk,” said climate scientist Hannah Cloke, a professor at England’s Reading University.

“Certainly, we should immediately stop pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” Cloke added, warning that some changes to the climate were already locked in.

Cerberus heatwave fans out to Balkans

Thursday 13 July 2023 20:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Swathes of the Balkans sweltered in temperatures above 40C (104F) on Thursday in a heatwave named “Cerberus”, after the three-headed dog of the underworld in Greek mythology, that has fanned across Europe.

In Croatia, 56 firefighters with 20 vehicles and three aircraft, struggled to contain a bushfire that was spreading rapidly due to strong southerly winds near the Adriatic town of Sibenik.

In the country’s Adriatic resort of Nin, dozens of beachgoers covered themselves in thick black mud believed to have medicinal properties and an effective sunscreen.

“It (mud) is definitely better than sun screen, I think protection factor is much better,” said a tourist from Slovakia who only gave his name as Josef.

Meteorologists and doctors in Montenegro, Bosnia and Serbia, warned people to stay indoors or drink plenty of liquids if venturing outside.

Temperatures were expected to stay around 40C across the region into next week.

Stories from the day: Thursday, July 13

Thursday 13 July 2023 20:00 , William Mata

Your 8pm round-up of headlines

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.

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.

Warnings issued to tourists over European heatwave Cerberus as temperatures soar and worker die

Tourists have been warned to take care as Southern Europe swelters in a heatwave where temperatures have pushed well past 40C – with Italy reporting the death of a street sign painter.

As Europe and US swelter in heatwaves – El Nino conditions threaten to escalate extreme temperatures

Thursday 13 July 2023 19:30 , Eleanor Noyce

As nations across Southern Europe and parts of the US face temperatures topping 40C, El Nino conditions are building in the Pacific that bring a chance of a record-breaking event that will bring more such sweltering heat.

Last month saw a “weak” El Nino form, a periodic climatic event around the warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, which can cause knock-on heat around the world. But an update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) on Thursday said that it will almost certainly strengthen throughout the year, with an 81 per cent chance it will peak with a “moderate to strong intensity” between November and January. There is a one in five chance that this event will be of “historic” strength, rivaling the major one experienced in 1997, Noaa said.

Chris Stevenson reports:

As Europe and US swelter – El Nino conditions threaten more extreme temperatures

The best pictures from Italy

Thursday 13 July 2023 19:00 , William Mata

Reuters photographers have put together a montage of people taking care and cooling down in 40C weather in Italy.

Parts of California warned to brace for ‘searing’ temperatures

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:50 , Eleanor Noyce

Parts of California were warned to prepare for searing temperatures - the hottest of the year so far, NWS reported.

The most at-risk regions are California’s Central Valley, the Mojave and Sonoran desert regions, and southern California, Nevada, and Arizona including the cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix, Bakersfield and Fresno.

Midday highs were mostly expected to be above 100F (37.7 C), and desert areas could reach 120F (48.8 C), forecasters said.

“The heat will be extremely dangerous and potentially deadly due to the intensity, longevity, and a relatively cool start to summer that may have limited the ability for people to acclimate to more typical hot summer weather in this region,” forecasters said.

“Please plan accordingly, this is not the time to be hiking or be outside for long durations,” NWS’ LA office tweeted.

“If you need to work outside, shift hours to the early morning, take frequent breaks and hydrate!”

In California, the state reminded employers of health and safety regulations that mean outdoor workers are given water, shade and regular breaks to cool off. There are few protections for outdoor workers in other parts of the south including Texas.

The extreme heat and dry conditions were also increasing the wildfire risk in the Golden State with fire agency, Cal Fire, reporting a number of blazes have ignited since the beginning of July.

Arizona undergoes hot streak as mercury hits 110F in Phoenix for 13 consecutive days

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:45 , Eleanor Noyce

The climate crisis, driven by burning of fossil fuels, is making long-lasting, dangerous heat five times more likely in places like Texas, Arizona, and Mexico, according to analysis from Climate Central.

The mercury has hit 110F (43.3C) in Phoenix, Arizona for 13 days in a row as officials advised residents to limit outdoor activities, and be alert to signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The risks of heat-related illness rise when the temperature surpasses 90F.

The city has opened a “heat relief network” to allow those without air conditioning to cool off at places like public libraries.

An intense heatwave is also building further west, and is likely to see temperature records topple this weekend, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

More than 113 million Americans under extreme heat alerts as relentless temperatures continue

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:35 , Eleanor Noyce

More than 113 million Americans were under heat alerts on Thursday as stifling, life-threatening temperatures dug in across large parts of the country.

In the south and southeast, relentless, hazardous heat is expected to continue for at least another week after constant triple-digit temperatures in the past month.

A wide area will experience temperatures of 110 degrees Fahreheit (43.3 Celsius), from a combination of heat and humidity, the National Weather Service reported.

Louise Boyle has the full story:

100million under extreme heat alerts in US amid relentless temperatures

'Californian summer in full swing’

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:30 , AFP

After a historically wet winter and a cloudy spring, California’s summer was in full swing on Thursday as a heat wave that’s been scorching much of the US south west brings triple digit temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires.

Blistering conditions will build Friday and throughout the weekend in the central and southern parts of California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned.

Midday highs were mostly expected to be above 37.7C, and desert areas could reach 48.8C, forecasters said.

Customers praised for leaving water bottles in mailboxes during US heatwave

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:10 , Eleanor Noyce

As a sweltering heatwave grips the southwestern United States, a delivery driver has shared his appreciation for a customer who left him a frozen water bottle in their mailbox during the 100F weather.

In a viral video posted to TikTok, a postal service worker gave insight into the difficulties of delivery driving during rising temperatures. As @ThatPostalDad made his usual delivery run in 102F weather, he opened a person’s mailbox to find a cold water bottle waiting to be taken.

The postal worker immediately grabbed the water bottle and poured the entire bottle on his head to cool off. “When it’s 102F outside and someone leaves an ice cold bottle of water in their mailbox,” he wrote over the post.

Meredith Clark reports:

Customers praised for leaving water bottles in mailboxes during US heatwave

US: South west could see record temperatures

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:00 , William Mata

Reuters reports that a prolonged heat wave blanketed a swath of the US stretching from California to South Florida, with forecasters expecting temperatures that could shatter records in parts of the Southwest in the coming days.

This video shows the reality for Americans living through it.

European Space Agency releases heat map as Europe braces for sweltering month

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:55 , Eleanor Noyce

As temperatures are expected to reach 48C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, the European Space Agency has released a map depicting the land surface temperature across Europe.

On 10 July, temperatures hit 42C in Milan, 46C in Rome and Madrid and highs of 47C in Seville, characterised by the sea of red sweeping the continent.

Following last year’s summer heatwave across Europe, more than 60,000 people died, with Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal experiencing the highest mortality rates.

This summer, The Red Cross has urged locals and tourists alike to be cautious and look out for those who are most vulnerable.

“Climate warming amplified this year by El Niño severely affects food production, water availability as well as our health. To properly adapt to these changes we need timely information at actionable resolution which the Copernicus programme is providing with Sentinel-3 and soon with the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring mission at 50 m resolution,” Benjamin Koetz, Mission Scientist of the Land Surface Temperature Monitoring mission, explained.

Iraq's water crisis drying up fish farming in Basra

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:50 , Eleanor Noyce

Meanwhile, Iraq is in the grip of a severe water shortage which has left crop growers and food producers such as Iraqi fish farmer Qasem Karam facing the loss of their livelihoods.

Walking over dusty land in the sweltering midday heat in the southern province of Basra, Karam points to his dried up carp ponds, once irrigated by the Shatt al-Arab river.

“Everything is full of salt now because of water scarcity and pollution,” he said, pointing at white patches of salt crust nearby. “These ponds cost us a lot of time, money and effort. We had an economic plan, but it is all destroyed.”

Upstream damming in Turkey and Iran has hit waterflows on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which form the Shatt al-Arab river, plus dumping of wastewater and poor rainfall due to climate change have led to a drastic reduction in fish farming, experts and officials said.

Lower water levels have also increased evaporation and made the water more saline.

Karam and three other fish farmers Reuters spoke with said the loss of suitable water was driving them out of a once thriving and profitable business.

According to an official at Basra’s agriculture directorate, Abbas Dakheel, only four authorised fish farms continued to work this year, as opposed to 15 in 2020. “This water is green, dirty and polluted. No fish can live in this water,” said Karam, kneeling down next to a pipe irrigating his pond. He said that his fish were now either sick, failing to grow or dead as a result.

Jumaa Shia, head of Basra’s directorate of water resources, said the city of 1.3 million needs to share its decreasing water resources among domestic users, agriculture, the oil industry and electricity generation. To save water, authorities have taken measures including closing down some 95 unauthorised fish farms in Basra.

Spain animal hospital treats heat-struck chicks for re-release into wild

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:40 , Eleanor Noyce

A wildlife recovery centre in central Spain is sparing no effort to nurse the many bird offspring afflicted by the blistering summer heat back to health so they can be re-released into the wild.

Heat waves have become more frequent in Spain in recent years, part of a global pattern of rising temperatures widely attributed by scientists to human activity.

Young common swifts, black redstarts, common kestrels and imperial eagles are habitual patients at Madrid’s regional Centre for the Recovery of Wild Animals (CRAS) during summertime, as they’re particularly vulnerable to the scorching temperatures that can top 40C (104 Fahrenheit).

“Swifts are the ‘stars’ of the summer because they’re the ones that come in the most,” CRAS director and veterinary chief, Silvia Villaverde, told Reuters, adding they had exceeded the 1,400-swifts mark so far this year.

Their chicks are complex to care for, as they require constant individual feeding with a diet made up exclusively of insects, which places a large burden in terms of time, resources and staff on the centre, she said.

They are often brought in by hikers who find them lying on the ground after they’ve either jumped out of their nests or been pushed out by their siblings due to the harrowing heat.

CRAS also receives many kestrels that have just fledged but are still incapable of securing food on their own or have crash-landed in places inaccessible to their parents, said forestry engineer Alejandro Martinez.

“After a day or two without food, with these high temperatures, they dehydrate very easily,” he added.

To reintroduce the assorted birds back into the wild, CRAS uses a “fostering” technique in which the chicks are placed in other nests and adopted by new parents who teach them proper behaviour, including how to fly or hunt.

Red is the colour

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:30 , William Mata

The ESA Earth Observation has shared a heat map of Europe showing the colour red as the most extreme heat.

Spain and northern Africa are illuminated the most in the graphic.

Homeless struggle in Spain

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:00 , William Mata

As Spain is facing a new summer heatwave, about 800 homeless people have to deal with temperatures - AFP reports.

The heat is about 38C in Madrid, and above 40C in other parts of the country.

Their stories are told in this video.

Report: More than 100 million Americans under extreme heat alerts as relentless temperatures continue

Thursday 13 July 2023 16:01 , William Mata

More than 100 million Americans were under heat alerts on Thursday as stifling, life-threatening temperatures dug in across large parts of the country.

In the south and southeast, relentless, hazardous heat continued after weeks of triple-digit temperatures.

A wide area would experience temperatures of 110 degrees Fahreheit, from a combination of the heat and humidity, the National Weather Service reported.

Read Louise Boyle’s full report here.

Poland in drought after heatwave

Thursday 13 July 2023 15:50 , William Mata

Poland has also been hit by the heatwave and is in midst of a drought with temperatures in Warsaw 13C higher than average.

The Polish capital is expected to be a balmy 32C, which is far in excess of the 19C the city usually feels in July.

As a result, water levels are low and crop yields are also expected to be on the wane.

Poland’s record temperature is 37C.

Photos of the heat: Thursday, July 13

Thursday 13 July 2023 15:38 , William Mata

US: Heatwave leaves more than 112 million under alerts

Thursday 13 July 2023 15:17 , William Mata

The heatwave which is expanding across the US has seen 112 million people issued with an alert, Axios has reported.

The south west will bear the brunt of the latest heat - with a ‘heat dome’ in the area.

Texas is also set to be hit with 42C heat, having just come off another heatwave in June.

Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, California and Arizona are all other states for which alerts are in place.

Watch: Record-breaking heatwave hits Italy

Thursday 13 July 2023 15:00 , William Mata

Met Office has not predicted summer heatwave for UK

Thursday 13 July 2023 14:37 , William Mata

As already reported, the Cerberus heatwave will not bring 40C plus temperatures to the UK - and instead the Met Office has predicted cool winds.

The weather agency has told Sky that it is unlikely that a heatwave will come to Britain this summer, unlike in 2022.

Rachel Ayers said temperatures will be up in August but there is a "below average" chance of super warmth.

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

Thursday 13 July 2023 14:26 , William Mata

Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere in the world may be looking with concern at planned trips to the Mediterranean.

As the busiest summer getaway since 2019 begins, travellers to southern Europe are likely to experience extreme heat. An area of high pressure appears to have settled over the Med with little sign of abating.

The deadly “Cerberus” heatwave (so named by Italian meteorologists) is gripping southern France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, as well as smaller countries in the Mediterranean region.

Simon Calder wonders whether it is now too hot to travel to the regions.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website