A strong and prolonged heat wave has hit Eastern Europe and the Balkans, with temperatures reaching and exceeding 40-42°C. Maximum temperatures over the next seven days are expected to exceed 42-44°C (10-12°C above the 1991-2020 average) in many parts of the Balkans, including Greece.
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Climatebook writes that hundreds of monthly and absolute temperature records are expected to be broken in the above-mentioned regions over the next 10 days.
In addition to very high maximum temperatures at midday, high temperatures will persist into the night, where in many areas, particularly in major urban centres, temperatures will not fall below 28-30°C, increasing heat stress, particularly for vulnerable groups.
A map published by climate researchers shows that Ukraine suffers from the heat the most (the darker the color, the greater the difference between the usual air temperature for the specified region).
Earlier, forecasters reported that a drop in temperatures in Ukraine should be expected in about a week.
Heat waves of up to 40 degrees Celsius have affected not only Ukraine, but also central and southern Europe.
Thus, in Italy, Romania and other countries, authorities are warning about the need to be careful, drink plenty of water and not go outside during the hottest hours of the day, writes Euronews.
Italy’s government on Thursday issued a “red alert” for seven cities, mostly in the central part of the country, as well as the capital Rome and Trieste in the northeast. The heat is aggravated by humidity and could affect both healthy people and those with underlying health conditions, authorities warned.
Similar warnings have been issued in neighbouring Croatia and in the east and south of the country. Croatia’s main tourist resort, the southern city of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea, recorded 28 degrees Celsius at dawn.
Wildfires have been reported this week in Albania, near the border with Greece, as well as in Bosnia and Italy. On Thursday, several fires raged in the southern Greek region of Corinth and on the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos.
A warning was issued on Thursday around the capital Athens and other parts of central Greece, and a similar warning was issued for the northeast of the country on Friday.
According to meteorologists, in large cities, where hot concrete radiates heat and the asphalt softens underfoot, the temperature was even higher than officially reported.
Temperatures above 40 degrees are recorded in parts of Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
In the Czech capital Prague, where temperatures reached 34 degrees on Wednesday and dropped slightly on Thursday, the city zoo used ten tons of ice to provide animals with much-needed relief.
In the Romanian capital Bucharest, street thermometers showed 42 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, although official figures were several degrees lower.
As for Ukraine, according to weather forecasters, high temperatures will last until about July 20. For example, today, July 12, the country is expected to experience heat from 31 to 42 degrees (high temperatures in the southern regions).
The World Meteorological Organization and the EU’s Copernicus organisation have previously warned that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with devastating health consequences as temperatures rise at about twice the global average.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.