How long will the heatwave last in Europe? When Caron will end, latest weather forecast and travel advice
Southern Europe is continuing to experience extremely hot weather, with temperatures well above 40ºC in some parts, causing wildfires in Spain, Greece and Turkey.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has warned that the hottest European temperature ever could be recorded, breaking the record 48.8ºC seen in Sicily in August 2021.
Europe has been baking in very hot weather since last week, due to a heatwave that was been dubbed “Cerberus”, after the three-headed dog in ancient Greek mythology that guarded the gates to the underworld.
And the arrival of an anticyclone that has been named Charon – who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead – is only exacerbating the issue.
How long could the heatwave last?
The World Meteorological Organisation said on Monday that the heatwave is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August in some places.
New records have already been set for specific weather stations in parts of the northern hemisphere and new national records may also be set, the UN agency’s website said.
“The heat is forecast to intensify by the middle of the week in parts of the Mediterranean, including Greece and Turkey,” it added. “A further continuation into August is likely.”
The ESA said: “Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heatwave with air temperatures expected to climb to 48ºC on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.”
The Italian weather service said Sardinia would be at the “epicentre” of the heatwave.
Italian meteorologist and climate expert, Giulio Betti, told BBC News: “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.”
Spain’s Aemet weather agency said the heatwave this week “will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean” with temperatures in some southern areas of Spain exceeding 42ºC.
What is causing the Charon heatwave?
Charon is an anticyclone – another name for an area of high pressure – that pushed into southern Europe from North Africa on Sunday.
It has followed the Cerberus heatwave that has already been causing scorching temperatures in Europe.
Rebekah Sherwin, expert meteorologist from the Met Office’s global forecasting team, said the high temperatures have been driven by an established high pressure system that is sat across the affected regions.
She said: “Heatwave conditions already occurring across much of southern Europe, north-west Africa and the Middle East are expected to continue through the coming week.
“Peak temperatures – which are around 10°C to 15°C higher than average – could reach the mid-40s degrees Celsius in parts of southern Europe and up to 50°C in parts of North Africa. Higher than average temperatures are also likely at times further north across Europe, but these will be shorter lived and less impactful.
“The high temperatures are being driven by an established high pressure system that is sitting across the region, allowing temperatures to build day by day. Unusually high sea surface temperatures are also occurring across the region, with many parts of the Mediterranean seeing surface temperatures as high as 25°C to 28°C.
“The southern shift of the jet stream that has pushed the high pressure southwards across this region has also led to low pressure systems being directed into the UK, bringing more unsettled and cooler weather here than we experienced in June when the jet stream was at a more northerly latitude.”
Where are wildfires burning?
At least 4,000 people were evacuated from their homes on the Spanish island of La Palma on Sunday as firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire.
Wildfires outside Athens have forced thousands of people to flee seaside resorts, closed motorways and gutted holiday homes, as high winds pushed flames through hillside scrub and pine forests.
Authorities issued evacuation orders for at least six seaside communities as two major wildfires edged closer to summer resort towns.
Before nightfall, water-dropping planes and helicopters tackled the flames near Lagonisi, 25 miles south-east of the capital. The second large wildfire broke out in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki, 55 miles west of Athens, where a children’s summer camp and rehabilitation centre for seniors were evacuated, local officials said.
Is it safe to travel to Europe?
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advice for both Greece and Spain. “You should check with your travel provider before traveling and follow the advice of local authorities at all times,” it advises.
It is still generally safe to travel to Europe during the current heatwave provided you take appropriate measures to look after yourself, but bear in mind that some groups, including the very young and the elderly, are more vulnerable during spells of extreme heat.
It is good practice to carry high-SPF sunscreen and a bottle of water with you at all times, applying and refilling throughout the day. Avoid drinking too much caffeine or alcohol in hot weather, too, as this will dehydrate you faster.
If you can, avoid any strenuous activity in the middle of the day (around midday to 5pm), when temperatures are highest.
The following symptoms, outlined by the NHS, could be signs that you are suffering from heat exhaustion:
- tiredness and/or weakness;
- dizziness;
- headache;
- feeling sick or being sick;
- excessive sweating or a heat rash;
- cramps in the arms, legs and stomach;
- fast breathing or heartbeat;
- a high temperature;
- extreme thirst.
If so, move out of the sun and into the shade as quickly as possible, keeping cool with water or sports drinks. Remove any unnecessary clothes and place cold packs or cold, damp towels around the neck, under the armpits or around the feet to help bring the body temperature down.
If left untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, a serious condition that may require medical attention. For more information on keeping cool in hot weather, visit the NHS website.
