Heatwave hits southern Europe: Temperatures up to 48 degrees

(Patria) - A heatwave is affecting parts of southern Europe and northwestern Africa, with possible record temperatures in the coming days, reports the BBC.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

In Italy, temperatures could reach up to 48.8C. A red alert has been issued for 10 cities, including Florence and Rome.

"We are facing an unbearable heatwave," wrote Italian politician Nicola Fratoianni on Twitter.

The Cerberus heatwave, named by the Italian Meteorological Society after the three-headed monster from Dante's Inferno, is expected to bring extreme conditions in the coming days. The Met Office says temperatures will peak on Friday, and BBC Weather says large parts of southern Europe could see temperatures above 40 degrees.

The highest temperature in Europe of 48.8C was recorded near Syracuse on the Italian island of Sicily in August 2021.

More than 60,000 people died in Europe from heat-related causes last year. There are fears that this heatwave could cause many more deaths this summer. A heatwave is a period of hot weather where temperatures are higher than expected for that time of year.

Experts say periods of extremely hot weather are becoming more frequent, and climate change means it is now normal to experience record temperatures.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said that globally, this June was the hottest on record.