Is it safe to travel in Europe during the heatwave as holidaymakers warned off beaches
By Rachel Dixon, Multimedia Producer
With school holidays on the horizon, hundreds of thousands of Brits are expected to flock to popular tourism destinations such as Spain and Greece.
But instead of balmy temperatures, they will be met with a blistering heatwave gripping Europe.
Known as Cerberus in Italy, and Kleon in Greece, the high pressure zone has led to deadly land surface temperatures of over 60C in the Spanish region of Extremadura.
Land surface temperature is a measurement of how hot the land is to the touch, which is different from air temperature usually given in weather reports.
Holiday hotspots including Austria, France, Switzerland and Germany have also documented record-breaking temperatures.
Over 4,000 people have been evacuated in La Palma, in the Canary Islands, after a wildfire ripped through the region.
But where has this heat come from, where is it going?
Plus with multiple people collapsing in Rome from the heat, what are tourists supposed to do if their week in the sun turns dangerously hot?
Why is it so hot?
There are three key factors.
The heatwave is being caused an anticyclone, this is an area of high pressure.
It happens when cool air from higher up in the atmosphere sinks down, as it sinks, the pressure rises and the temperature does too, this causes hot, warm and dry weather.
Meteorological experts are also putting the soaring temperatures in Europe - and more generally across the world - down to El Niño.
In its simplest form, El Niño Southern Oscillation is the redistribution of heat into the central southern Pacific Ocean which drives the weather patterns across the Pacific and around the globe, ITV News Weatherman Chris Page explains.
A typical El Niño temporarily adds about 0.2C to average global temperature according to the Met Office.
But this temperature rise is "dwarfed by the 1.2C that we have seen from climate change," says Jeff Knight a Met Office climate expert.
He predicts human-induced warming will lead to a new global temperature record, which is likely to be seen before the end of next year.
How long will the European heatwave last - and will it reach the UK?
The heatwave will grip the Mediterranean region over the next two weeks with temperatures above 35–40C, says the World Metrological Organisation.
In the Middle East and southeastern Türkiye and in North Africa, the forecaster expects it to heat up to 45C.
Grahame Madge, spokesman for the Met Office, said: "The heatwave conditions which are affecting parts of southwest Europe and northwest Africa are expected to extend eastward eventually reaching the Middle East later in the week.
On Wednesday night, temperatures are expected to fall due to winds in the north and east of Spain.
"In southeast and southern Andalusia, hot winds blowing from the interior will cause temperatures to soar,” according to meteorologist Rubén del Campo,of Spain’s national weather agency.
The heatwave also will cause other European countries to swelter through the weekend.
In Italy, 10 cities were put on high heat alert for older people and other vulnerable populations from Bolzano in the north extending southward to Bologna, Florence and Rome.
Temperatures are expected to reach 40C on the Sardinian inland Wednesday.
German's weather forecaster, DWD, predicted the mercury could rise to 35C with high humidity particularly in the west of the country Saturday.
The heat will spread eastward by Sunday, reaching highs of 37C, it said.
It will ease slightly in countries across western Europe, such as Spain and Portugal in the next few days, the Met Office said.
How holiday makers should stay safe during Europe’s heatwaves
While people may be seeking sunshine drenched holidays, the hot weather is becoming increasingly dangerous.More than 61,000 deaths were linked to last summer's heatwaves in Europe, according to a study published on Monday.
Flights and holiday packages are continuing as normal, according to trade association ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents).
The Foreign Office recommended people check travel advice on its website.
Red heat alerts have been put out across Europe, meaning the temperatures could cause a danger to life.
Forecaster Simon Partridge said: “It’s a massive shock to the system when you’re there, so give yourself a chance to get used to the heat.”
During hot weather the Met Office advises people to keep out of the sun, especially between the hours of 11am - 3pm, keep hydrated and stay indoors with curtains drawn to block the light.
People are also advised to watch out for signs of heatstroke including hot, dry skin or excessive sweating, confusion, loss of consciousness, unresponsive, seizures or fits and a very high body temperature.
Call 999 - or the emergency number of the country you are holidaying in- if someone shows symptoms of heatstroke, including feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place.
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