Southern Europe is baking under an intense early-season heatwave, with temperatures in several countries expected to soar above 40°C over the weekend. Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and Portugal are among the hardest-hit, issuing urgent health and wildfire warnings as the extreme heat takes hold.
In Spain, the city of Seville is forecast to hit 42°C on Sunday, prompting emergency services to remain on standby, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic health conditions. “It always gets super hot in Madrid, what surprises me is how early it’s happening we’re still in June,” said Marina, a 22-year-old resident.
Italy has issued advisories in major cities like Rome, Milan, and Venice, urging people to remain indoors during peak hours between 11:00 and 18:00. The Italian heatwave coincides with high-profile events, such as the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez in Venice, where tourists are feeling the strain. “There is no wind, a lot of humidity… I’m suffocating at night,” said Alejandra Echeverria, a Mexican tourist.
France has been in the grip of the heatwave for over a week, with orange alerts the second-highest warning level issued across its southern regions. In response, Marseille has opened municipal pools free of charge, and there are growing calls to close schools temporarily to protect students’ health.
The sweltering heat is being driven by hot air masses sweeping in from North Africa, stretching across the Balkans to popular holiday destinations such as Croatia. BBC Weather describes the phenomenon as “very intense” for this time of year, with such high temperatures typically occurring in July or August.
Meanwhile, Greece has already witnessed destructive wildfires near Athens, forcing residents to evacuate. The UK is also experiencing unusually hot conditions, with London temperatures potentially reaching 35°C on Monday.
Scientists warn that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. According to World Weather Attribution, three-day June heatwaves exceeding 28°C are now around 10 times more likely than in pre-industrial times.
