Health and fire warnings have been issued in countries across southern Europe, with temperatures expected to exceed 40C in some places over the weekend. Italy, Greece, France, Spain and Portugal are among the countries affected - with the Spanish city of Seville forecast to hit 42C. Hot air from North Africa, which is spreading across the Balkans to holiday destinations such as Croatia, is contributing to the soaring temperatures. BBC Weather says the heatwave is "very intense" for this time of the year -with the continent normally experiencing such high temperatures in July and early August. In Spain, emergency staff have been placed on standby to deal with a surge in heatstroke cases especially among the vulnerable including children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Italian authorities are advising residents in several cities, including Rome, Milan and Venice - where several A-list celebrities have gathered forthe wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez- to stay indoors between 11:00 and 18:00 local time. France, meanwhile, has been experiencing a heatwave for more than a week. Orange heat alerts, the country's second-highest warning, were issued for southern regions on Friday. In the city of Marseille, municipal swimming pools are being opened free of charge until the end of the heatwave. Yellow and amber alerts are also in placefor parts of England this weekend, with temperatures set to reach 32C. The heatwave is forecast to last until Tuesday evening. Wildfires have already struck some parts of Europe, including Greece, where coastal towns near the capital, Athens,erupted in flames that destroyed homes - forcing people to evacuate. While it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate change. Scientists 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 times.
Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Southern Europe Faces Severe Heatwave with Health and Fire Warnings"
Bbc News
7.9
TruthLens AI Summary
Southern Europe is currently facing an intense heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar beyond 40°C in various countries over the weekend. Nations such as Italy, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal are particularly affected, with the Spanish city of Seville anticipated to reach a staggering 42°C. This extreme weather phenomenon is being fueled by hot air originating from North Africa, which is moving across the Balkans and impacting popular tourist destinations like Croatia. According to BBC Weather, this heatwave is notably severe for this time of year, as such high temperatures are more typical of July and August. In response to the rising temperatures, emergency services in Spain are on high alert for a potential increase in heatstroke cases, especially among vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Additionally, Italian authorities have issued advisories urging residents in major cities such as Rome, Milan, and Venice to remain indoors during the peak heat hours from 11:00 to 18:00 local time, coinciding with high-profile events like the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez.
France has been enduring a heatwave for over a week, prompting the issuance of orange heat alerts, which are the second-highest warning level, for its southern regions. In Marseille, municipal swimming pools have been opened free of charge to provide relief to residents during this oppressive weather. Moreover, the heatwave is expected to last until Tuesday evening, with parts of England also experiencing yellow and amber alerts as temperatures are projected to reach 32°C. Unfortunately, the heat has already led to wildfires in certain areas, particularly in Greece, where coastal towns near Athens have been engulfed in flames, necessitating evacuations. While attributing individual extreme weather events directly to climate change can be complex, scientists from World Weather Attribution have noted that heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, with June heatwaves exhibiting temperatures above 28°C now occurring approximately ten times more frequently than in pre-industrial times.
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