Spain, France, Italy and Portugal are preparing for a very early and extreme heatwave. In many areas it will be at least 40 degrees, and the temperature can rise to 45 degrees. The Spanish weather service has warned 35 of the 52 provinces.
According to the Spanish broadcaster RTVE, there have only been eleven heatwaves in June in Spain since 1975. Four of them took place in the past ten years.
The heatwave starts on Saturday and will last until at least July 1, reports the Spanish weather service AEMET. During that period, Spaniards and Portuguese will have difficulty falling asleep: at night there is a so-called sticky night with a minimum temperature of around 25 degrees.
The worst heat is expected in the center and south of Spain. In the regions of Madrid and Andalusia it can be around 45 degrees. Residents of cities such as Córdoba and Seville, but also of coastal towns such as Cádiz, Valencia and Málaga, are warned to do as little as possible. Metropolitan areas such as Madrid and Barcelona warn of the expected heat in several places in the city.
According to RTVE, the water of the Mediterranean Sea has never been so warm in June. The average surface temperature was around 27 to 28 degrees, with peaks of around 30 degrees off the coast of Mallorca. These temperatures are normally only expected in August. The weather service takes into account that the sea water will warm up further due to the persistent heat in the coming months.
A 34-year-old Dutchman died on Thursday afternoon during a walk on Mallorca. He is suspected of having become unwell due to the heat, writes the Spanish Ultima Hora.
In Portugal, the risk of forest fires is being monitored more closely due to the extreme heat. In the capital Lisbon, the temperature can rise to 42 degrees.
Extreme heat also in France and Italy
It is also very warm in other Southern European countries. In Rome, the mercury is expected to rise to 37 degrees. Both tourists and Catholic pilgrims seek refreshment at the approximately 2,500 public fountains in the Italian capital.
The popular tourist destination Venice was already suffering from high temperatures on Friday. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is celebrating his wedding there. Visitors to and protesters against the wedding had a hard time under the bright sun on Friday.
The French port city of Marseille has already taken measures to offer residents refreshment. It will also be warm there with temperatures around 40 degrees. The French authorities have therefore decided to make the public swimming pools freely accessible to residents.