Europe on alert as first major heatwave of 2025 pushes temperatures to 42C
Authorities across Europe are on alert as the first heatwave of the summer pushes temperatures up to 42C (107.6F), as the fastest-warming continent continues to suffer the effects of the climate emergency.
Spain's state meteorological office, Aemet, issued a special heat warning on Friday, saying temperatures could reach 42C in some southern areas of the country over the coming days.
'Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people,' Aemet said.
Madrid's health ministry also warned people to take extra care in the heat, reminding them to stay out of the sun, keep hydrated and pay close attention to those who are older, pregnant or who have chronic health conditions.
Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires as temperatures of up to 42C are expected in Lisbon.
As temperatures in Marseille approach 40C, authorities in France's second-largest city have ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat.
With peaks of 39C expected in Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy. The country's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other regions.
In Venice – which has played host to the lavish three-day wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, guests, visitors and protesters are feeling the heat.
'I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke,' Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told Agence France-Presse in the city.
As temperatures in Greece approached 40C, a large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, leading authorities to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a major tourist attraction.
The heatwave follows a series of broken extreme-heat records, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events, including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves, have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn.
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Last year was the hottest in recorded history so far and led to worldwide disasters, costing more than $300bn (£219bn). A Lancet Public Health study published last year found that heat deaths in Europe could triple by the end of the century, with the numbers rising disproportionately in southern countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain.
Deaths from warm weather could kill 129,000 people a year if temperatures rise to 3C above preindustrial levels. Today, heat-related deaths in Europe stand at 44,000.
But the yearly death toll from cold and heat in Europe may rise from 407,000 people today to 450,000 in 2100, even if world leaders meet their global heating target of 1.5C, the study found.
Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report
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Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Europe is sweltering and England is next: UK weather map reveals where will hit 34C as Britain is likely to hit record temperatures in coming days
Temperatures will soar to a searing hot 34C in the UK on Monday, forecasters say, as Europe swelters in a 'heat dome'. Britain bathed in balmy 30C heat on Sunday to round off a sweltering weekend and there is set to be no relief overnight, with temperatures in England and Northern Ireland remaining in the late teens. And things will get even toastier at the start of next week with the mercury reaching 26C in the southeast by 10am on Monday before hitting highs in the mid 30s by the afternoon. A weather map shows that London and the southeast will experience the highest figures, with 31C expected in the Midlands and 28C in the northwest and west of the country. The Met Office wrote on X: 'Here is the 4cast for Monday. Hot across southeast England in particular with temperatures reaching 34 Celsius.' The toasty temperatures will threaten the UK's June record of 35.6C - set in the famously hot summer of 1976. But Britain is not the only country melting in the June heat, with a 'heat dome' currently gripping large swathes of the continent and wreaking havoc. On Sunday, firefighters mobilised in several nations to tackle blazes as southern Europeans sought shelter from punishing temperatures of a heatwave that is set to intensify in the coming days. BOURNEMOUTH -- People bask in the 31C heat in southern England today as they flocked to the town's sandy beach, but things are about to get even hotter EYENSFORD -- People keep cool in the ford in River Darent as temperatures soar across the country WIMBLEDON -- Tennis fans have been braving the heat today as they sit in the queues in the hopes of getting tickets for tomorrow's opening day at SW19 Temperatures will soar to a searing hot 34C in the UK on Monday, forecasters say, as Europe swelters in a 'heat dome' A heat bomb has hit Europe with Spain's national weather agency issuing a special warning Fires broke out in France and Turkey Sunday, with other countries already on alert. Authorities from Spain to Portugal, Italy and France urged people to seek shelter and protect the most vulnerable from the summer's first major heatwave. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. In Turkey, forest fires broke out Sunday afternoon in the western Izmir province, fed by strong winds, local media reported. In France, meanwhile, wildfires broke out in the Corbieres area of Aude in the southwest, where temperatures topped 40C, forcing the evacuation of a campsite and abbey as a precaution. The country's weather service Meteo France put a record 84 out of its 101 regional departments on an orange heatwave alert - the second-highest - for Monday. Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, had reached up to 44C Sunday and issued a special warning amid the heatwave. Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, are under a red warning until Monday night, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Temperatures are set to be higher than 34C tomorrow. This has only occurred three times in June since 1960 SPAIN -- Tourists cool off under a cloud of mist at the Plaza de la Reina during a heat wave in Valencia GERMANY -- A woman bathes in the sun next to a fountain at Munich's Karlsplatz square Two-thirds of Portugal was also on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires - as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday. In Italy, 21 cities were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome. 'We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted,' said British tourist Anna Becker, who had travelled to Rome from a 'muggy, miserable' Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported an uptick in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. 'We've seen around a 10 percent increase, mainly in cities that not only have very high temperatures but also a higher humidity rate. It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue,' he said. In Venice, authorities offered free guided tours for people over 75s in air-conditioned museums and public buildings. Bologna has set up seven 'climate shelters' with air conditioning and drinking water, Florence has called on doctors to flag up the lonely and vulnerable, Ancona is delivering dehumidifiers to the needy, and Rome has offered free access to city swimming pools for those over 70. In Portugal, several areas in the southern half of the country, including the capital Lisbon, are under a red warning for heat until Monday night, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere. VATICAN CITY -- People cool off with water from a fountain during a heatwave in Saint Peter's Square VATICAN CITY -- A woman uses a fan to cool herself during the heat as Pope Leo XIV addesses the crowd GERMANY -- Children play in a fountain at Munich's Karlsplatz square VATICAN CITY -- A woman takes shelter from the sun with an umbrella during a heatwave in Saint Peter's Square ROME -- A woman is tended to during to sweltering heat at a Red Cross emergency point PORTUGAL -- A man walks under umbrella to protect himself from the sun by the Tagus River, Lisbon Two-thirds of Portugal was on high alert today for extreme heat and forest fires, as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely impacting biodiversity. 'With this stifling heat, the temperature can exceed 40 degrees in some nests,' said Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the League for the Protection of Birds. 'We are taking in birds in difficulty everywhere; our seven care centres are saturated,' he said. It is also attracting invasive species, which are thriving in the more tropical climes. Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day on record on Monday and could even see the highest temperature ever recorded during the tournament. The hottest ever Wimbledon day was on July 1 2015, when temperatures reached 35.7C. The warmest opening day on record was on June 25 2001, when temperatures hit 29.3C. Your browser does not support iframes. The intense heat is set to continue across Europe tomorrow with temperatures reaching 37C in France The UK Health Security Agency issued amber and yellow heat health alerts over the weekend VATICAN CITY -- People shelter under umbrellas in the heat as Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's Square WIMBLEDON -- People bring their camping gear as they queue in the baking heat for tomorrow's opening day WIMBLEDON -- Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day on record on Monday and could even see the highest temperature ever recorded during the tournament CAMBRIDGE -- People punting along the River Cam, as the warm weather continues CAMBRIDGE -- People punting on the River Cam during the hot weather Your browser does not support iframes. The hottest day of 2025 so far was recorded on June 21 in Charlwood, Surrey, when temperatures hit 33.2C. Tropical nights are also in store for many, with temperatures overnight not dropping below 20C, Mr Lenhert said. Fresher air is then expected to move in from the west in the middle of the week, bringing an end to the heatwave. It comes as a second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force on Friday. The alert, which covered London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services. An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. ENGLAND -- Sunbathers cover the beaches in Bournemouth on the south coast CUMBRIA -- People cool off in the River Lune, in market town Kirkby Lonsdale SPAIN -- A tourist uses an umbrella to protect herself from the sun during a heatwave in Valencia VATICAN CITY -- People use a fountain to splash cooling water over their faces in St Peter's Square VATICAN CITY -- People shielding under umbrellas queue to fill their water bottles from a fountain PORTUGAL -- A man sunbathes near the Tagus River in Lisbon as a heat bomb hits Europe LONDON -- Pigeons bathe in a fountain in Russell Square as temperatures continue to rise London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said: 'London is already facing its second heatwave of the year and we know that people will be looking forward to getting outside to enjoy the wonderful weather. 'But the high temperatures and low rainfall in recent months means the current risk of wildfires is severe. 'So far this year, firefighters have responded to around 14 wildfires in the capital. 'There have also been countless call outs to smaller fires involving grass, trees and in other outdoor spaces, as well as in people's gardens. 'During this latest heatwave, it is important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring. 'As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly. 'In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties.' There will be a 'marked difference' in north-western parts of the UK however, with cloud and heavy rain in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where temperatures will stay in the mid to high teens, Mr Lenhert said. The hottest ever July 1 on record was in 2015, when the temperature hit 36.7C.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Pensioners told to shelter from heatwave in museums and swimming pools
Italy has offered pensioners free entry to swimming pools and air-conditioned museums amid skyrocketing temperatures in Europe. Highs of 43C have been forecast across parts of southern Spain and Portugal as much of the continent remains in the grips of an intense heatwave. In Rome, over 70s will be given free access to swimming pools, while in Venice, over 75s will be offered guided tours of museums and public buildings free of charge as authorities seek to keep pensioners out of the sweltering heat. Seven 'climate shelters' with air conditioning have also been established in Bologna, while ambulances have been placed on standby at tourist hotspots across southern Europe. The initiatives were rolled out as extreme heat alerts were put in place across 21 Italian cities, including Naples, Venice, Rome, Florence and Milan. In the regions of Sicily and Liguria, outdoor working has also been banned during the hottest parts of the day. Mario Guarino, the vice-president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, said emergency departments across Italy had reported around a 10 per cent uptick in heatstroke cases. He said: 'It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue.' Hospitals, including the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples, have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to fast track patients' access to treatments such as cold-water immersion, Mr Guarino added. The extreme temperatures have also been felt elsewhere in Europe, with wildfires sweeping through the Greek coastal towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari on Thursday, destroying homes and forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate. Strong winds and sky-high temperatures made the fire extremely difficult to contain, with 11 tourists needing to be rescued from a beach, authorities said. The UK Health Security Agency warns that extreme heat is linked to a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions. The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra) this week also warned that four 'potentially dangerous' species could be invading the Mediterranean amid warming sea temperatures. Ispra urged fishermen and tourists to report sightings of the venomous lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot, which could be attracted to the waters off southern Italy in the extreme heat. Scientists have warned climate change is playing a critical role in the heatwaves sweeping across Europe, especially in cities where the 'urban heat island' effect means temperatures are amplified among tightly packed buildings. Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at Ispra, said: 'The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years, with peaks of 37 degrees or even more in cities, where the urban heat island effect raises the temperatures even further. 'A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now,' she added. In 2003, more than 70,000 people died during an extreme heatwave in Europe, a disproportionate number of whom were over 75.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Temperatures reach 46C in Spain as Europe heatwave continues
A heatwave continues to grip large parts of Europe, with authorities in many countries issuing health warnings amid searing Spain is the worst-affected region, with temperatures in the mid-40s Celsius recorded in Seville and neighbouring areas.A new heat record for June of 46C was set on Saturday in the town of El Granado, according to Spain's national weather service, which also said this month is on track to be the hottest June on heat warnings are in force in parts of Portugal, Italy and Croatia, with numerous amber warnings covering areas of Spain, France, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland. In Barcelona, a woman died after completing a shift as a road sweeper on Saturday, when temperatures were very high. Local authorities are investigating her Italy, emergency departments across the country have reported an uptick in heatstroke cases, mainly affecting "elderly people, cancer patients, or homeless people", Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine told the AFP news such as the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to speed up access to vital treatments such as cold water city of Bologna further to the north has set up seven climate shelters with air conditioning and drinking water, while Rome has offered free access to city swimming pools for those over 70.A pharmacist in Portugal's capital Lisbon told Reuters news agency that, despite telling people "not to go out" during the hottest hours of the day, "we have already had some cases of heat strokes and burns".The severe heat has also affected countries across the western Balkans where temperatures have reached in excess of registered its highest-ever temperature since it began recording them in the 19th century. In Slovenia, the hottest-ever June temperature was recorded on Saturday. North Macedonia is also sweltering as temperatures reached 42C on Friday. More hot weather to come Some areas will continue to get hotter until the middle of the week, with temperatures rising across France, Germany, Italy and the UK over the next few days. Yellow and amber alerts are in place for parts of England this weekend, and temperatures in London may reach 35C on Monday. The heat has been building under a big area of high pressure, with dry air descending and that process has continued over a number of days, temperatures have climbed. The area of high pressure will move eastwards over the next few days – taking the high temperatures northwards and eastwards with it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate at World Weather Attribution, who analyse the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, say June heatwaves with three consecutive days above 28C are about 10 times more likely to occur now compared to pre-industrial reporting by BBC Weather, Guy DeLauney and Guy Hedgecoe
