Abnormal heat continues to inconvenience residents of several southern European countries, particularly Spain and Italy, European media reported on Wednesday.
Temperatures in Sicily approached 47 degrees Celsius during the day, with the highest temperatures recorded in Agrigento and Trapani. The island’s health services report a 20% increase in the number of citizens’ visits to hospitals.
In at least 20 cities in Italy continues to operate introduced by the authorities of the heightened level of danger due to the heat wave. We are talking, including Rome, Florence and Bologna. Italian Health Minister Orazio Scilacci urged residents and tourists to be extra vigilant and avoid staying in direct sunlight from 11:00 to 18:00. Meanwhile, Rome is experiencing power outages amid a surge in the use of air conditioners.
Spanish meteorological services on Wednesday reported that the average temperature of coastal waters broke the record for this time of year. Thus, the water warmed to an average of 24.6 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees higher than the average for this time. In some parts, the water temperature exceeded 28 degrees Celsius.
The situation is difficult in Greece and Cyprus. Greek forecasters are recording peaks of 39 degrees Celsius in the east of the country and 41 degrees in the west. In addition, Athens is expecting 43 degrees Celsius by the weekend. In Cyprus, temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius are being recorded, with the situation forecast to worsen on Friday and Saturday, which is expected to be even hotter.
In Greece, natural fires continue to spread amid the 40-degree heat wave. Hundreds of people have been evacuated. Firefighters from other countries, including Poland, Romania and Slovakia, are involved in the fight against the fire.
On the eve in a number of regions in the south-east of France recorded temperature records. In the department of Ariège the air warmed up to 40.6 degrees Celsius for the first time in the history of meteorological observations. Record temperature was also recorded in Renno in Corsica – 38.3 degrees Celsius.
In addition, the water in the Mediterranean Sea near Nice warmed to 29.2 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in the region.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned the day before that temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius will last in many parts of the world for several days.
