Temperatures expected to surpass 40 C in some parts of continent

This article was written by Nicole Winfield and was published in the Toronto Star on July 18, 2023.

Italian officials intensified heat warnings Monday as southern Europe began a brutally hot week with temperatures expected to top 40 degrees C on a continent already sizzling under the sun and overburdened by tourists.

Countries with borders on the Mediterranean Sea weren’t alone in suffering. Authorities in North Macedonia extended a heat alert for the next 10 days with predicted temperatures topping 43 C, while Kosovo also issued heat warnings.

The Italian Ministry of Health urged regions to beef up house-call services so older people don’t have to go out if they need medical care and to set up dedicated heat stations at hospitals to treat emergency cases. Rome braced for temperatures as high as 42 C on Tuesday.

The Italian capital’s civil protection office, volunteers and officials from the local water company plan to be at 28 locations, including the ancient Colosseum and open-air produce markets, to guide residents and tourists to fountains and to distribute bottled water.

The city government said that having volunteers fan out through the city would help hasten the arrival of medical help for people who seem to be suffering ill effects from the heat.

Europe’s third heat wave in a month was expected to affect much of the Mediterranean region and last until Wednesday.

The mercury in Rome hit 39 C by 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Power outages were hitting parts of the city as electric grids sputtered under heavy demand from air conditioners.

Spain’s Aemet weather agency said the heat wave this week “will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean.” Temperatures in some southern areas of Spain were forecast to exceed 42 C before dropping at some point on Wednesday.

Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo said that as Cerberus pushes a hot mass of air from Africa toward Europe, the heat and very dry air would cause the risk of wildfires to skyrocket.

Greece got a brief respite from the heat Monday, with opening hours returning to normal at the ancient Acropolis and other sites. But two wildfires threatened homes in areas outside Athens.