New heat peaks expected in Europe. Italy, France and Spain, alert due to extreme temperatures

New heat peaks are expected in parts of Europe, especially in Italy, where about 20 big cities are on alert this weekend, but also in France, confronted with a “severe” risk of fires in southeast areas, AFP, according to Agerpres.

The Italian Ministry of Health has placed in particular Rome and Venice on “red” alert due to the expectation of a level of heat that could have “negative effects on the health of people in good health and not just on people in the risk groups”.

In 2021, the temperature record for continental Europe was shot down in Italy, namely 48.8 ° C, according to the World Meteorological Organization (OMM).

In France, four departments around the Mediterranean (Bouches-Du-Rhone, Fence, Herault and Pyrenees-Orientales) were placed in orange alert on Friday, at 10:00 GMT, the weather-free-leed indicated in the morning warning bulletin, which predicts temperatures between 35 and 38 ° C 39 ° C or even more inside the country.

The heat could increase, and the heat wave could spread throughout the country, warns meteo-free. Saturdays will be generally between 37 and 39 ° C. In France, 13 departments will be placed on orange alert.

Since June 19, the country faces the 50th wave of national heat in 1947, of which 33 has taken place since 2000, a consequence of global warming, which increases the intensity and frequency of heat waves.

This is a “early heat wave”, whose duration and gradual spread to the north of the country requires “a special vigilance”, insists, while a violent storm, followed by a intense heat wave, has already caused two extended deaths and damage on Wednesday night.

For several days, the town halls, prefectures and firefighters have issued warnings and recommendations.

The second largest city in France, Marseille, announced that municipal pools will be free until the end of the heat wave. Distributions of water bottles are also planned in the fence department, where the temperatures are expected to reach 40 ° C on Saturday.

“Extreme” risk of forest fires

In the Department of Bouches-Du-Rhone, the most exposed to the risk of forest fires in continental France, firefighters are struggling with numerous fires for several days, although they have been under control for the moment. The prefecture announced the closure of 14 out of 26 forest areas, with a strict access prohibition.

This intense heat wave also hits southern Europe, where temperatures will exceed 40 ° C on Saturday.

Spain is preparing for the first wave of heat of summer, which will start this Saturday and will make thermometers up to 42 ° C in the south of the country.

The hardest days will probably be Sunday and Monday, when the temperatures will exceed 40 ° C in extended areas of the south, center and east of the country, warned the Spanish Meteorological Agency, Aett.

The minimum temperatures will not fall below 25 ° C in extended areas of the southern half of the country, being expected tropical nights that will make sleep during this heat wave that will last at least until Tuesday, July 1.

The Civil Protection Agency has appealed to “maximum vigilance in the face of the extreme risk of forest fires”.

In Portugal, two thirds of the country will be on Orange alert on Sunday, with temperatures of 42 ° C forecast in Lisbon and a maximum risk of vegetation fires.

In Greece, a violent vegetation fire devastated numerous seaside resorts on Thursday, south of Athens, causing dozens of evacuations, before being controlled on Friday morning.

On Sunday, another vegetation fire is ravaging on the island of Chios, in the northeast of the Aegean. So far it has devastated over 4,000 hectares, but according to Greek firefighters, it is “under control”.

The Balkans are also stifled by the first heat wave of the year, accompanied by an intense drought: Thursday in Bosnia there were temperatures of 40 ° C, and two regions of Croatia, around the capital, Zagreb, and in the east of the country, are on maximum alert due to heat.

In Serbia, the maximum Thursday temperatures will vary between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius, with almost 10 degrees Celsius, warned the National Meteorological Service.