'Danger alert' for Irish tourists off to holiday hotspots as temps soar to 46C
Irish tourists taking trips to Europe in the foreseeable future should brace themselves for absolutely roasting temperatures.
Temperatures tipped over 40°C in Spain and Portugal at the weekend, and look likely to edge even higher on Monday.
Road surfaces are beginning to melt in Italy, while Greece has been plagued by wildfires sweeping across the holiday islands in recent days, reports The Mirror.
The heat dome hanging over Europe is no laughing matter, with one tourist already having lost their life to heatstroke in Majorca. The roasting-hot front has blown up from Africa and looks poised to push thermometers even higher.
It's unlikely the heat will relent anytime soon thanks to the heat dome currently hanging over Europe. The meteorological phenomenon occurs when a high-pressure ridge traps a thick layer of warm air in one region, acting like a lid on a pot.
While a little sun, sea and sand might sound tempting, such high temperatures can be very dangerous.
The region around Seville in southern Spain was forecast to reach 42°C through the weekend, while the French Mediterranean coast pushed 40°C on Saturday, with similar temperatures in southern Italy and Sardinia. Highs in London could hit 35°C on Monday, potentially making it the hottest June day on record in the UK.
In Spain, Monday is expected to be the hottest day of a heat wave that began on Saturday and set a record for June, with 46 degrees forecast for El Granado in the south of the country.
The arrival of a warm, dry mass of Saharan origin is exacerbating the rise in temperatures to "abnormally high and persistent levels, both day and night, which could pose a risk to people," the State Meteorological Agency warned.
UK health authorities issued an amber heat alert for Tuesday covering London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England. The UK Health Security Agency has warned that scorching temperatures could pose a risk to children, older people, and those with medical vulnerabilities.
It warns of "a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups".
The heat also increases the likelihood of intense storms. France and Germany have been hammered by ferocious rain, hailstorms and flooding, leaving three people dead. Among them was a child who was crushed to death by a falling tree.
Amber heat warnings have been issued for many parts of Spain, with similar warnings in place for four departments in the south of France. In Spain, weather expert Nacho Espinos has urged people to remain indoors and avoid strenuous exercise.
A double alert has been issued in the Canary Islands due to extreme temperatures, with warnings affecting four of the islands. Weather experts say temperatures could reach 37C. On Gran Canaria, warnings have been issued for the rising risk of forest fires and the health dangers of high heat.
In part due to the high heat there, Greece has borne the brunt of the wildfires in Europe so far this summer, with serious blazes breaking out in several areas.
A fierce blaze ripped through the area south of Athens on Thursday, leading to evacuation orders and forcing officials to shut off sections of the vital coastal route from the Greek capital to Sounion, home of the historic Temple of Poseidon and a key draw for visitors.
In France, firefighters were mobilised to tackle early summer fires as 84 of the country's 101 administrative areas were put on a heatwave alert from today until midweek.
Extreme heat can be deadly. In 2023, 61,000 people died because of Europe's record-breaking heatwave. William Spencer, climate and first aid product manager at the British Red Cross, said: "Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and getting worse because of climate change.
"Sadly, we have seen cases already this year of the tragic impact high temperatures can have on human life. High temperatures make it harder for the body to cool itself and we all need to take care to manage the health risks of heat. If you are travelling to a country experiencing extreme heat, there are several steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe."
Temperatures have started rising rapidly, just as a new early warning system has come into force. Forecaster.health is the first pan-European, publicly available platform that predicts the actual mortality risks of temperatures for different demographics. Those planning a holiday who are concerned about the heat can use it to check how much of a risk to their health they are taking.
If you are heading on holiday in the coming weeks, make sure you know the forecasted weather so you can prepare accordingly.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Carla Ward's Ireland feel the heat during Stateside slog
AFTER A SECOND heavy defeat to USA in three days, Ireland boss Carla Ward spoke about 'dangerously hot' conditions in Cinicinatti. Temperatures soared over 30 degrees as the depleted Girls In Green shipped another 4-0 drubbing yesterday. They lost on the same scoreline at altitude in Denver. Anna Patten also blasted the 'ridiculous' heat and humidity after another difficult outing against the world number one, who were also understrength. 'I actually don't think words can describe it,' Patten told RTÉ. 'To play with only a two-day break against the quality of players they have, in that temperature at this time of day, to be honest, it's a bit ridiculous.' The defender gave an insight into how hard it was to play in it, with high heart-rates unable to drop as bodies were overworked. Players were 'unwell' and 'begging to come off,' Ward explained, giving the sideline perspective. 'On 22 minutes, there were a couple of players asking to come off. We couldn't make those changes,' she told Tony O'Donoghue. Advertisement 'Then, at half time, we unfortunately had three enforced changes physically, due to fatigue, and a couple of them were unwell at half time. Even through the second half, players (were) almost begging to come off and we couldn't do anything about it.' Katie McCabe, Denise O'Sullivan, Megan Campbell, Aoife Mannion, Leanne Kiernan and Heather Payne were among the Irish absentees due to unavailability and injury. Others who travelled were on limited minutes, the overwhelming majority out of season. While Ward has talked up the merits of the trip, most will feel that it was a rather pointless endeavour. The timing was challenging, with the Championship contingent out of action since late April. The WSL finished on 10 May. Bar the NWSL and League of Ireland players, most have been holidaying and recharging the batteries in recent weeks after long, tough seasons. This was always going to be a mismatch, made more so by the loss of key Irish players, particularly star duo McCabe and O'Sullivan. The US were also down some big names, with Emma Hayes opting to rest all bar one of her European-based crew, Chelsea's million dollar defender Naomi Girma. But a young, domestic selection — all in season — made their mark, eager to impress and secure their future with the serial winners. Alyssa Thompson, Olivia Moultrie and Emma Sears were among those to dazzle across the double-header; Ireland outplayed and outmuscled twice, the gulf in class as wide as it has ever been. Albeit in very different circumstances, Ireland's pre-World Cup friendlies Stateside two years ago finished 2-0 and 1-0. Along with the same result in 2008 at Giants Stadium, a one-goal loss is as good as it has ever gotten in an abysmal record of friendlies in the US: 17 meetings, 17 defeats, 59 goals conceded, one scored. While the games themselves are tricky to assess, and won't be read into too much, it has all added to a sense of drift. 2025 has been testing: that much was inevitable after the Euros qualification heartbreak, the raft of retirements, and a change of management. Right now, it's hard to see that these friendlies, the first of Ward's mixed reign, have done more good than harm. While they will point to the opportunity of playing against one of the best teams in women's football, the Nations League promotion/relegation playoff against Belgium in October is the next big focus, and this didn't seem like appropriate preparation. Granted, when initial plans were in place, Ireland likely held aspirations of automatic promotion. Still, there must have been scope for experimentation and blooding new players, such as the U19 Euros stars of last summer, as 2027 World Cup qualifying looms large. Ellen Molloy, Hayley Nolan and Izzy Atkinson were the only different, yet familiar, faces in the squad; all used sparingly. Erin McLaughlin and US-born Dee Bradley were called up mid-camp; neither featured. The back-up goalkeepers remained unused. Ward deployed a 4-5-1 formation for the most part — Chloe Mustaki getting a real chance at left-back in the absence of McCabe and Campbell, Jessie Stapleton again covering on the right amidst a lack of options — but reverted to a back three/five for Sunday's second half. (Nolan and Lucy Quinn played out of their preferred positions.) While we at home didn't learn much from the exercises, that was one on-field positive the manager pointed to in her TV interview. 'We've looked at two different systems, we've looked at two different ways of playing. We've added a couple of other layers to what we want to try and do. 'I think overall as a camp, it's been a powerful one in terms of learning and educating in various ways.' Sometimes, the benefit of these trips — and difficult games — are seen only in hindsight. Soundings from the camp were positive through a whistle-stop tour, the social media dispatches underlining a tight-knit squad bonding further. Right now, it might seem pointless and meaningless to some, but the hope is that further spirit has developed and that the extended period together has been purposeful on the training pitch and in the classroom. The Belgium playoff is almost four months away, 116 days to be precise, but it will roll around quickly. The Red Flames, in Euro 2025 action over the coming weeks as Ireland watch from afar, will bring plenty more heat.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Europe swelters under scorching temperatures as regions issue heat alerts
Forest fires fanned by high winds and hot, dry weather damaged some holiday homes in Turkey as a lingering heatwave covering much of Europe led authorities to raise warnings and tourists to find ways to beat the heat. A heat dome hovered over France, Portugal and Spain to Turkey on Monday, while data from European forecasters suggested other countries were set to broil further in the coming days. Heat warnings were issued for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany with new highs expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week. People use a street water fountain during a heatwave in Paris (Christophe Ena/AP) 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,' UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres tweeted from Seville, Spain, where temperatures hit 42C on Monday. Reiterating his frequent calls for action to fight climate change, Mr Guterres added: 'The planet is getting hotter and more dangerous — no country is immune.' In Portugal — his home country — a reading of 46.6C was registered in Mora, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Lisbon. Weather officials were working to confirm whether that marked a new record for June. Portuguese authorities issued a red heat warning on Monday for seven of 18 districts as temperatures were forecast to hit 43C. The first heat wave of the year has gripped Spain since the weekend and no relief is expected until Thursday, the national weather service said on Monday. Tourists protect themselves from the sun with umbrellas while looking at the Sagrada Familia church on a hot day in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) The country appeared to hit a new high for June on Saturday when 46C was recorded in the southern province of Huelva, while Sunday's national average of 28C set a record for a high temperature for June 29 since records were started in 1950. – Forest fires In France, which was almost entirely sweltering in the heatwave on Monday, and where air conditioning remains relatively rare, local and national authorities were taking extra effort to care for homeless and elderly people and people working outside. Some tourists were putting off plans for some rigorous outdoor activities. 'We were going to do a bike tour today, but we decided because it was going be so warm not to do the bike tour,' said Andrea Tyson, 46, who was visiting Paris from New Philadelphia, Ohio, on Sunday. Misting stations doused passers-by along the River Seine in the French capital. France's first significant forest fires of the season consumed 400 hectares (988 acres) of woods on Sunday and Monday in the Aude region in the south. Water-dumping planes and some 300 firefighters were mobilised, the regional emergency service said. Tourists were evacuated from one campground in the area. An Icelandic horse drinks water from a water hose at a stud farm in Wehrheim near Frankfurt, Germany (Michael Probst/AP) In Turkey, forest fires fanned by strong winds damaged some holiday homes in Izmir's Doganbey region and forced the temporary closure of the airport in Izmir, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities evacuated four villages as a precaution, the Forestry Ministry said. Firefighters were also battling a blaze that broke out on Monday near residential areas in Hatay province, near Turkey's border with Syria, that prompted the evacuation of 1,500 people. In Italy, the Health Ministry put 21 cities under its level three 'red' alert, which indicates 'emergency conditions with possible negative effects' on healthy, active people as well as at-risk old people, children and chronically ill people. Regional governments in north-western Liguria and southern Sicily put restrictions on outdoor work, such as construction and agricultural labour, during the peak heat hours. The mercury was rising further north, too. – 'People who need protection' In southern Germany, temperatures of up to 35C were expected on Monday, and they were forecast to creep higher until midweek – going as high as 39C on Wednesday. Some German towns and regions imposed limits on how much water can be taken from rivers and lakes. At the Berlin zoo, elephants were showered with water and bears treated with blocks of ice containing fruit.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tributes flow for Irish tourist killed in Bolivian landcruiser accident
Tributes have flowed for an Irish tourist who was killed when a 4x4 overturned in Bolivia with a pal saying he was 'one of the loveliest people you would ever have met.' Named locally as Oisin Hoey, 29, from Clontarf in Dublin, he was among a group of seven in a Toyota Landcruiser when the accident occurred on Bolivia's famous salt flats on Friday afternoon. Officials said the group was on their way to a local volcano when the vehicle flipped over and travelled for a further 40 metres before coming to a halt on its side. Mr Hoy was gravely injured and was being brought to the nearby city of Potosi when he died en route. Five others, including two Bolivians, two Germans and a Dutchman were also injured. Three required hospital treatment in Potosi due to the severity of their injuries. Mr Hoey, who had a love for travelling and adventures, was also described by a pal as a 'very popular man.' 'He was one of the loveliest persons you'd ever meet,' local councillor Kevin Breen, who was a good friend of Oisin's since their childhood, said. 'He was so full of life and loved adventures and travel. He was also a great GAA man and ran a good few marathons. 'It's just so tragic and extremely heartbreaking,' he said. Local Bolivian police chief Colonel Wilson Flores said authorities believe the incident occurred due to excessive speed. He said one of the other tourists had requested to drive the vehicle in order to record a video for social media when it occurred. Flores said: "Unfortunately due to excessive speed, it lost control and the vehicle turned over, causing one death and five injuries. The deceased passed away en route to Potosi due to the abdominal injury he suffered." Local tourism boss Raul Torres said the accident occurred amid increasing concerns about safety levels among tour operators in Bolivia. He said many firms were not attending road safety training and an instruction session scheduled for last Friday had been cancelled because of the failure of company drivers to show up.
