As a heatwave continues to grip southern Europe, temperatures are expected to soar even higher today, reaching up to 46C. Spain, Italy, and Greece are particularly affected, while France, Germany, and Poland also face the threat of extreme heat in the coming days, according to the European Space Agency.
Sardinia and Sicily, among the 16 areas under a red alert, are forecasted to reach 45C, while Taranto in southern Italy could experience scorching 46C temperatures, just 2.8C shy of the European record set in August 2021 in Floridia, Sicily.
Senior climate scientist Carlo Buontempo warns that parts of Europe may reach levels comparable to record highs. Madrid and Seville, popular tourist destinations in Spain, will see temperatures exceeding 40C, prompting British holidaymakers to reconsider their summer plans.
The relentless heatwave has also impacted Greece, where Athens is expected to contend with temperatures exceeding 40C. Recently, the iconic Acropolis landmark temporarily closed to safeguard tourists from the intense sun. Wildfires have ravaged areas near the Greek capital, with firefighters battling a blaze near Kouvaras, a village approximately 16 miles southeast of Athens.
Meanwhile, a wildfire that ignited on Saturday on the Canary Island of La Palma continues to burn out of control, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasizes that the climate crisis is no longer a warning but a reality. He urges world leaders to take immediate action. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that global temperatures could rise by more than 1.5C before 2027.
Climate scientist Dr. Akshay Deoras from the University of Reading highlights that without substantial action to address global warming, Earth will become an “inferno” as heatwaves become more frequent and intense. The Paris Agreement, signed by 175 countries, aimed to limit global temperature increases to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
