Europe heatwave – live: Greece in emergency weather measures as map shows deadly ‘Cerberus’ heat

Greece has introduced emergency measures to help workers cope with temperatures of more than 40C as the Cerberus heatwave grips Europe.

The country has introduced the mandatory stoppage of work where there is heat stress from 12-5pm and high risk members of the public service will work from home.

Temperatures in Greece could top 44C in the days to come while already in Spain the ground temperature has reached 60C.

A heat map for Europe has turned to dark red and even black in areas because of the severity of the extreme weather, with forecasters noting that the heatwave could last for up to two weeks. One person has already died as a result.

The 44-year-old worker was reportedly painting a zebra crossing in 40C heat in the town of Lodi outside Milan, Italy, at midday on Tuesday when he collapsed.

The scorching heat is being driven by the rising global temperature as well as El Nino – a cyclic climate pattern which makes many places a lot hotter.

There is also extreme heat in the US, and you can follow the blog for that here.

Key Points

• 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

• Cerberus heatwave fans out to Balkans

Second heatwave Charon to hit Italy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Warning of wildfires in Greece

Thursday 13 July 2023 14:23 , William Mata

Greece's minister of climate change and civil protection has warned that wildfires could hit the country.

“We are going to have fires, we are going to have floods... and we have to deal with what is happening,” Vasilis Kikilias told Sky News.

He added that wildfires are a particular concern when winds pick up in a few days time, as they are forecast to do.

Mr Kikilias said that climate change was behind the extreme weather.

More on emergency measures in Greece

Thursday 13 July 2023 14:19 , William Mata

Greece’s government has shared more details of the emergency measures in place to deal with the heatwave.

Temperatures of more than 44C could hit the country within the next week.

The labour ministry has said that when heat stress is high between 12pm and 5pm work must be stopped.

It has also said high-risk members of the private sector must work from home and that special provisions should be given to outdoor workers.

Pictures from around Europe

Thursday 13 July 2023 13:45 , William Mata

When will temperatures peak?

Thursday 13 July 2023 13:15 , William Mata

Europe will see different peaks at different times over the next few days.

Germany will see highs of around 34C on Saturday, as will Austria.

But the most extreme heat will come to Italy a little later - with temperatures above 40C expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There is a similar outlook in Spain and France.

Is heatwave going to hit the UK?

Thursday 13 July 2023 12:45 , William Mata

The UK has had wet and windy conditions this week while other parts of Europe have baked.

Temperatures are expected to go beyond 40C in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey in the next few days.

The Met Office has instead issued a yellow weather warning for wind for the UK.

Stuti Mishra reported the difference in conditions here.

On Twitter, the Met Office forecast “strong gusts across southern, central and eastern England,” into Saturday.

Killer Cerberus heatwave sweeping Europe turns heat maps black as health alerts issued

Thursday 13 July 2023 12:25 , William Mata

The Cerberus heatwave is bringing temperatures to central and southern Europe that are so extreme, heat map graphics are turning the most critical shade of black.

The map turns a dark shade of red when the mercury reaches the high 30s and then creeps into black when it gets to 40C and beyond. Parts of central and southern Spain have already been shaded black, while Greece is also dark over the coming weekend.

See the full story here.

Record temperatures

Thursday 13 July 2023 11:30 , William Mata

Hot weather is expected to be on the way in central and southern Europe in the next fortnight.

Already the heat map for Spain has showed black patches, suggesting the most extreme heat.

Here is a look at what the record temperatures are for countries.

France

Record: 46C - 2019

Expected peak this next week: 35C

Germany

Record: 40.03C - 2022

Expected peak this week: 34C

Italy

Record: 48.8C - 2019

Expected peak this week: At least 40C

Spain

Record: 47.6C - 2021

Expected peak this week: 43C

Heatwave stretches in America

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:52 , William Mata

America has also been feeling the impacts of the heat

A prolonged heatwave blanketed a swath of the US stretching from California to South Florida on Wednesday, with forecasters expecting temperatures that could shatter records in parts of the south west in the coming days.

The National Weather Service issued excessive heat advisories, watches and warnings for areas where about 100 million Americans live. The sweltering conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend and continue into next week.

The south west was bracing for potentially deadly heat with much of the area under an excessive heat warning.

Thunderstorms also forecast in France

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:31 , William Mata

Thunderstorms have been forecast for Paris and other parts of France on Saturday. The BBC weather predictor has said that “thundery showers and a moderate breeze,” could be on the way.

Last month, France was submerged in flooding with chaotic scenes witnessed in the capital.

Showers have already been striking parts of the country this week.

Rain also hit the Tour de France on Wednesday with the peloton getting soaked on the run in to Moulins.

Rome, Bologna and Florence all on red alert

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:05 , William Mata

Nine Italian cities have all been put on red alert because of the extreme weather.

Bologna, Bolzano, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Turin, Rome and Rieti have all been given the warning.

Italy has already seen heat of more than 40C while the islands of Sicily and Sardinia were forecast to be as high as 48C.

The country was also home to the first fatality. A 44-year-old worker was reportedly painting a zebra crossing in 40C heat in the town of Lodi outside Milan, Italy, at midday on Tuesday when he collapsed.

Italian MP Nicola Fratoianni tweeted: “We are facing an unbearable heat wave. Perhaps it is the case that in the hottest hours all the useful precautions are taken to avoid tragedies like the one that happened today at #Lodi.”

Welcome to the live blog

Thursday 13 July 2023 09:59 , William Mata

Hello and welcome to our live updates on the heatwave sweeping Europe.

The Cerberus heatwave is affecting the lives of millions across the continent while there is also there is also the threat of storms.

At least one person has died as a result as record temperatures could strike in the coming days. Keep following for more.