Be Prepared for the Heat: Italy Issues Warning for Scorching Weather in Southern Europe
Italy on High Alert: Heat Advisory Issued as Southern Europe Braces for Extreme Weather
As the impacts of climate change continue to unfold, Italian authorities have issued a hot weather alert for 16 cities in response to the imminent heatwave set to scorch southern Europe, as reported by Reuters.
The Spanish island of La Palma has already faced the consequences, with over 4,000 people evacuated due to an uncontrolled forest fire. Greece, Italy, and Spain have also been grappling with severe temperatures, leading to agricultural challenges and a rush for shade among tourists.
Adding to the intensity, a new anticyclone named Charon, after the mythical ferryman of the dead, has arrived from North Africa and is expected to push temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in certain parts of Italy early this week.
Meteo.it, the Italian weather news service, warned of a severe heatwave sweeping across the entire country, breaking ancient heat records in some areas.
In response to the extreme conditions, Greece took measures to protect tourists by closing the ancient Acropolis during the hottest part of the day. Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci advised caution, particularly for vulnerable individuals, suggesting that visiting the Colosseum during temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was not advisable.
Health alerts have been issued across Italy, ranging from the central city of Florence to Palermo in Sicily and Bari in the southeast. Spain is also at risk of forest fires, with forecasters warning that nighttime temperatures may not dip below 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the country.
The heatwave is expected to intensify starting from Monday, with temperatures predicted to reach 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Guadalquivir Valley near Seville in southern Spain. Meteorologists have even suggested that Europe’s highest recorded temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit) registered in Sicily two years ago could be surpassed in the coming days, particularly on the Italian island of Sardinia.
