ROME – Southern Europe will continue to swelter next week as an intense heatwave shows no sign of abating.
Italy, Spain and Greece have been experiencing high temperatures for several days already.
The Italian health ministry issued a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence for the weekend.
The heatwave is expected to continue well into next week, with 48C (118.4F) possible in Sardinia, according to Italian media.
Such a temperature would, however, fall short of the European record high of 48.8C (119.8F) – which was recorded in Sicily in August 2021.
The Italian weather service said Sardinia would be at the “epicentre” of next week’s heatwave – which weather forecasters have dubbed Charon, after the ferryman who delivered souls into the underworld in Greek mythology.
“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.
Italy’s government has advised anyone in the areas covered by Saturday’s red alerts to avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 and 18:00, and to take particular care of the elderly or vulnerable. (BBC)
