Europe swelters as intensive Cerberus heatwave continues, with record temperatures of 48°C-plus forecast

Scorching hot temperatures will continue across Europe next week, reaching record-breaking levels of 48°C or more, as the intense heatwave shows no signs of a let-up.

Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey have sweltered in plus-40°C heat for days as a result of an anticyclone system nicknamed Cerberus, after the multi-headed hound which guards the underworld in Greek mythology.

The extreme weather has led to multiple health warnings in Italy, the closure of high-profile tourist destinations such as the Acropolis in Greece, and forest fires burning out of control in Spain.

Now forecasters say a new weather system – dubbed Charon after the ferryman who carried souls to the underworld – is to sweep in, with blistering temperatures expected to match or even exceed records.

“We need to prepare for a severe heat storm that, day after day, will blanket the whole country,” Italian weather news service Meteo.it warned on Sunday. “In some places ancient heat records will be broken.”

Some forecasters have said the island of Sardinia is expected to be the epicentre of this new period of extreme weather.

“Temperatures will reach a peak between 19 and 23 July – not only in Italy but also in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans. Several local heat records within these areas may well be broken during those days,” Italian meteorologist and climate expert Giulio Betti told the BBC.

Temperatures as high as 48°C are forecast for the Italian island of Sardinia, according to local media, just short of the current European record of 48.8°C in Syracuse, Sicily in August 2021.

However, this has been disputed by other weather experts. Sky News’s meteorologist Chris England said heatwave conditions across southern Europe will continue next week but Spain and Portugal look likely to be a little less hot, while Greece will heat up.

“European temperatures for the current hot spell look like peaking somewhere above 45°C somewhere in the western Mediterranean but are unlikely to reach Europe’s all-time record of 48.8°C from Syracuse two years ago”, he added. “Parts of North Africa and the Middle East will be hotter, with 50°C possible in places.”

Italian authorities issued hot-weather red alerts for 16 cities on Sunday including the capital Rome, the Tuscan city of Florence, Palermo in Sicily. and Bari in the south-east.

Italy’s Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said authorities were keeping a close eye on Rome and urged people to take care.

“Going to the Colosseum when it is 43°C is not advisable, especially for an elderly person,” he told Il Messaggero newspaper on Sunday, saying people should stay indoors during the hottest part of the day.

On the Spanish island of La Palma, at least 4,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes as forest fires burn out of control. More than 11,000 acres of land are reported to have been destroyed by the fire which started in the early hours of Saturday and has swept across the Canary Island.

At least 12 houses have been destroyed, said Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands. The Spanish army deployed 150 of its firefighters to help local crews battle the blaze.

In the Greek capital Athens authorities closed the Acropolis monument to visitors because of the extreme heat.

Coastal cities in the south and south-west of Turkey have experienced temperatures in the low 40s, with the tourism hot spot of Antalya reaching a high of 44°C.

In the northwestern cities of Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ, 48 people were taken to hospital with symptoms of heatstroke in the past two days, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Other parts of central Europe have also been affected by the heatwave, with authorities in Poland warning people, particularly the elderly, to stay indoors or in the shade, and well hydrated, as temperatures reached 35°C.

However, the UK is unlikely to experience the intense heat currently across Europe. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page said: “Temperatures are expected to stay near average or rather cool over the coming days especially in the rain and wind.”