ROME (AP) — Major heat waves across Southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40 C (104 F) in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, as local authorities issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires.

ROME (AP) — Major heat waves across Southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40 C (104 F) in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, as local authorities issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires.

Experts link the rising frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe’s southern region.

Severe heat waves were recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal before the weekend, with locals and tourists alike taking shelter from the sweltering conditions.

Two-thirds of Portugal were on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to top 42 C (107 F) in Lisbon.

In Italy, a few regions — Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria — were planning to ban some outdoor work activities during the hottest hours of the day in response to the record-high temperatures. Italian trade unions pushed the government to expand such measures at a national level.

On Sunday, the Italian Health Ministry placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples.

In Rome, tourists tried to seek shade near popular spots like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, using umbrellas and drinking from public water fountains to stay cool.

Similar scenes were reported in Milan and Naples, where street vendors sold lemonade to tourists and residents to offer some refreshment from the heat.

Greece was again on high wildfire alert because of extreme weather, with the first summer heat wave expected to continue throughout the weekend.

A large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and road closures near the ancient Temple of Poseidon. Strong winds spread the flames, damaging homes and sending smoke across the sky.

Greek authorities deployed 130 firefighters, 12 planes and 12 helicopters to battle the blaze, while police evacuated 40 people, with five areas under evacuation orders.

In Spain, locals and tourists were desperately trying to keep cool this weekend, as the country sizzled in temperatures as high as 42 C (107 F) in the southern city of Seville along with other locations in southern and central parts of the country.

Southern regions of Spain recorded temperatures above seasonal averages, prompting health alerts and safety recommendations from authorities. The country’s national meteorological service Aemet has said that June is set to break yet another record, becoming the hottest such month since records started.

Experts warned that intense heat can affect daily life, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.

Local authorities advised against physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, and recommended drinking plenty of fluids.

A Lancet Public Health study published last year highlighted the increasing risk of heat-related deaths because of climate change. The study predicted that heat-related deaths could more than quadruple by mid-century under current climate policies.

While more people die from cold than heat, the study stressed that rising temperatures will offset the benefits of milder winters, leading to a significant net increase in heat-related mortality.

Giada Zampano, The Associated Press

A dangerous heat wave is gripping large swaths of Europe, driving temperatures far above seasonal norms and prompting widespread health and fire alerts. The extreme heat is forecast to persist into next week, with minimal relief expected overnight.

France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are among the nations experiencing the most severe conditions, as meteorologists warn that Europe can expect more and hotter heat waves in the future because of climate change.

In Spain, temperatures reached 114.8 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) on Saturday in El Granado, in the southwest of Spain.

According to AEMET, Spain’s state meteorological agency, the figure — pending validation — would set a new national record for June, surpassing the previous high of 113 degrees, recorded in Seville six decades ago.

Balkans Sizzle Under Record Heatwave, Sparking Health Alerts and Wildfire Fears

The Balkan region is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring near 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). This extreme weather has triggered widespread health warnings, urging residents to take precautions, and significantly escalated concerns over rampant wildfires across several countries.

Unprecedented Temperatures Grip the Region

Meteorological services across the Balkans have reported record-breaking heat. Serbia recorded its hottest day since the 19th century, with forecasts indicating even higher temperatures. Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced its driest June in 135 years, with temperatures already exceeding forecasts and predicted to remain 4-5 degrees Celsius above average for July and August. This prolonged heat is largely attributed to climate change, leading to more intense and frequent extreme weather events.

Health and Safety Warnings Issued

Governments and health authorities are issuing urgent recommendations to protect citizens from the scorching heat and associated risks:

Stay Indoors: Avoid direct sun exposure from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Avoid direct sun exposure from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Air-Conditioned Areas: Seek refuge in shaded or air-conditioned environments.

Seek refuge in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Work From Home: Where possible, citizens are encouraged to work remotely.

Where possible, citizens are encouraged to work remotely. Home Precautions: Close windows and cover them with curtains during the day to keep indoor temperatures down.

Wildfire Threat Escalates

The intense heat has significantly heightened the risk of wildfires across the region. Several areas have already been impacted:

Croatia: Battled wildfires along its Adriatic coast, destroying dozens of homes and prompting evacuations. A high fire danger warning remains in effect.

Battled wildfires along its Adriatic coast, destroying dozens of homes and prompting evacuations. A high fire danger warning remains in effect. Albania: Firefighters controlled eight blazes in the past 24 hours, but hot, dry conditions pose a continued threat.

Firefighters controlled eight blazes in the past 24 hours, but hot, dry conditions pose a continued threat. Serbia: The capital, Belgrade, reached 37 degrees Celsius, raising concerns about potential fires.

Seeking Respite and Animal Welfare Efforts

Residents and tourists are finding various ways to cope with the heat:

Many are cooling off in rivers and lakes, such as the Erenik River in Kosovo, Bundek Lake in Croatia, and Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia.

Tourists in Montenegro are flocking from the sweltering Adriatic coast to cooler mountain resorts like Durmitor.

Animal welfare organizations are also taking measures; a bear sanctuary in Kosovo is preparing frozen treats to help its residents stay cool.

Key Takeaways

The Balkans are experiencing a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.

Health authorities have issued severe warnings, advising citizens to take precautions against heatstroke and dehydration.

The extreme heat has significantly increased the risk of wildfires across the region, with several countries already battling blazes.

Climate change is cited as a driving factor behind these more intense and frequent weather events.

Relief efforts include seeking cooler environments and providing aid to vulnerable populations and animals.

Sources

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A Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane drops water on a forest fire near Thymari, southeast of Athens, on June 26. (Photo: AFP)

PARIS – Southern European countries braced on Friday for a punishing weekend heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and beyond, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires.

The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather, including longer and more intense heatwaves.

Tens of millions of people have already been sweltering in what the National Weather Service called an “extremely dangerous” heatwave across the eastern United States, including in New York and Washington, straining the power grid as people cranked up air conditioning.

Across the Atlantic in Spain, emergency medical staff readied to deal with an expected surge in heatstroke cases, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.

In neighbouring Portugal, the national meteorological agency IPMA said the heatwave would hit from Saturday, with temperatures passing 40C in the south of the country as well as in the central Tagus and the Douro valleys in the north.

Sunday will be even hotter, the agency added, and two-thirds of the country has already been put on orange alert. Temperatures are expected to hit 42C in the capital, Lisbon.

The risk of fire is at its highest inland in the northern half of Portugal, as well as on the Algarve coast popular with holidaymakers in the south.

France has been gripped by its 50th national heatwave since 1947 for more than a week now, and four regions in southern France were placed under an orange alert on Friday — the second-highest warning — as temperatures were expected to reach 35C to 38C locally, and up to 39C inland.

The Meteo France weather agency said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an “aggravating factor” that could make nights “more stifling”.

Nine additional French regions are expected to be placed on orange alert from noon on Saturday.

Warnings

In Italy, the health ministry issued its top red alert for 21 cities this weekend including the capital Rome, the economic powerhouse Milan and Venice, where the rich and famous were celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos.

People were advised not to go outdoors between 11am and 6pm, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places.

In Venice, the temperature was set to hit 32C on Saturday, when Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to be throwing a dance party starring Lady Gaga — but it will feel like around 36C due to humidity.

In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36C on Sunday in Rome, Milan and Naples.

Across the Adriatic, the authorities in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also issued health warnings, while in Albania, firefighters battled Thursday to bring at least eight blazes under control after flames destroyed dozens of homes in the south of the country last weekend.

Further south, weather agencies in Greece forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40C, including in the capital Athens.

The country has become particularly vulnerable to summer fires in recent years fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change.

Firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands.

Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze around Athens, which came after another on Greece’s fifth-largest island Chios that destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days.

Summer officially started at the end of June, and this season is predicted to be hotter than normal — a heat wave across the country this week affected millions of Americans. In New York, the temperature was in the high 90s for several days in a row.

More than just uncomfortable, the heat can be dangerous and at worst deadly, and it’s only becoming more of a threat with climate change causing rising temperatures. Prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in excessive heat can cause heatstroke, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Last month, cooling centers — indoor, air-conditioned spaces for public use — opened in New York. The city’s fire department also turned some fire hydrants into water sprinklers. If you’re staying at home, here’s what you can do to stay as cool as possible indoors, whether you have an AC or not.

What’s the ideal temperature for your home?

While you should do what feels most comfortable for you, Carrier, an air-conditioner manufacturer, suggests on its website that 72 degrees is the generally accepted “comfortable indoor temperature for many people.” It continues, “It strikes a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency, making it a popular choice for residential settings.”

If you’re away from your home, set your thermostat for higher than usual to save energy and to prevent your AC unit from potentially busting. At night, because heat can disrupt sleep, 60 to 67 degrees is recommended by the Cleveland Clinic.

How do you keep your furry friends safe?

It depends on the animal, and its size and type, but pets are generally less tolerant of higher temperatures than humans.

Dogs, the most common pet in the country, tend to overheat when the temperature is between 81 and 85 degrees, according to the American Kennel Club. “An ideal temperature doesn’t exist for all dogs, since their normal body temperature will vary according to size,” the organization states on its website. It also suggests installing a temperature alarm that can notify your phone if your AC fails and you’re not at home to notice.

How do you maintain your AC?

Image Some experts suggest getting your AC serviced each year. Credit… Patrick Junker for The New York Times

If your AC is broken, it might be too late to find a repairman to fix it in time for the heat wave, but going forward, experts recommend servicing your AC unit once a year. A technician will typically check for and diagnose issues with the system, clean it and change out the filter.

Depending on your unit, you may be able to change your filter yourself. Carrier suggests inspecting your filter every two to three months, and certain factors might affect how often you’ll need to change it. (For example, if you have a pet, you may need to replace the filter more frequently because of its shedding.) You can look for an online guide on how to change the filter — whether it is for a window unit, floor-mounted or other. Just make sure to turn your system off first.

What can you do if you don’t have an AC?

You can close your blinds or cover your windows to minimize your exposure to direct sunlight. Stick-on solar film, which can be bought online or at home-improvement stores, is also an option. This can deflect infrared heat that would otherwise come in through your windows.

While fans don’t cool the air, the breeze they create can have a cooling effect. Wirecutter has a guide to room fans in varying sizes. Make sure your ceiling fans are running counterclockwise, so that air is pushed downward.

If you’re able to obtain it in time, Wirecutter also suggests this portable AC.

What are some things to avoid indoors?

Steer clear of using appliances that generate heat, such as an oven, clothes dryer, iron or blow dryer. New York Times Cooking has a list of “No-Cook Recipes for a Heat Wave” so you can prep a meal without turning on your stove top.

Try to avoid dark fabrics for curtains, upholstery or clothing, as they can absorb heat more easily. You can also turn off lights — having too many on close together can heat the surrounding air.

Avoid thick covers and blankets. Percale sheets tend to be more breathable, and Wirecutter has a guide for bedsheets for hot sleepers.

Can I report my landlord if my apartment is unreasonably hot?

While some cities, like Dallas, have air-conditioning requirements for rental apartments, New York City does not. (Landlords in New York are legally obligated to provide heat and hot water.) But if you live in an apartment that had an AC when you moved in, landlords are responsible for maintaining it and replacing it if it’s broken.

If they refuse to fix it or are unresponsive, you have options. Ronda Kaysen, a real estate reporter and former “Ask Real Estate” columnist, suggests paying to replace the AC unit yourself if you can then negotiate your rent, asking for the same amount for the upcoming year. You could also take your landlord to court, but that could be more time-consuming and expensive than paying to fix it yourself.