Holidaymakers Brace for 46C Heatwave as Summer Getaway Begins

Holidaymakers heading to southern Europe are facing extreme heat as temperatures soar to 46C (115F). The Met Office has issued warnings for families traveling to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, urging them to prepare for the intense heatwave that is gripping the continent and causing wildfires in Portugal.

Key Facts

• Temperatures in southern Europe are expected to reach up to 46C (115F).
• The Met Office has issued warnings for travelers to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
• Wildfires are raging across Portugal due to the extreme heat.

Heatwave Details

British families traveling to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco this week should brace for a heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 46C (115F). The Met Office predicts that the peak will occur on Wednesday, with Madrid reaching 39C (102F), Seville 43C (109F), and Lisbon 37C (99F). Marrakech is expected to hit the highest temperature of 46C on the same day, although temperatures are set to ease by the end of the week.

Met Office senior operational meteorologist Marco Petagna advised visitors to take care if traveling to southwestern Europe over the coming days. He noted that temperatures in the high-20Cs and mid-30Cs are typical for this time of year, making this week’s temperatures 10C or more above average.

Global Heatwave Impact

Other global cities are also experiencing extreme heat, with Baghdad in Iraq reaching 46C, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia 44C, and Abu Dhabi in the UAE 40C. Spain has already been experiencing very hot temperatures, with local authorities issuing health alerts and warning of a high risk of wildfires.

In Madrid, homeless people were bussed in from across the capital to take shelter in an air-conditioned center with food, drinks, and a washroom area. Greece is experiencing its second heatwave of the summer, bringing forest fires and 43C temperatures. Italy has put 14 cities under the highest level of alert, and Croatia is facing a prolonged heatwave with 37C highs.

Wildfires and Extreme Weather

Wildfires have ripped through the popular Cascais coastal area of Portugal amid very dry and windy conditions. Dramatic footage shows a major wildfire spreading through the countryside, with more than a dozen firefighting aircraft and almost 400 firefighters working to control the fire. This morning, 156 firefighters remained at the site as the battle against the huge fire continued into its final stages.

In Greece, blazes are tearing through forests in various parts of the country, burning non-stop for days after being ignited by lightning strikes and fanned by strong winds. In the northern mountainous area of Falakro, a wall of flames has been burning grassland for five days straight after lightning strikes ignited two areas, which then merged into a singular large front. Fire service helicopters are battling the blaze with water dumps amid fears it could spread out of control to residential areas.

Climate Change and Future Outlook

Large areas of Europe have been hit by increasingly damaging forest fire seasons in recent years, driven by rising temperatures fueled by climate change. Last summer, thousands of British tourists fled Rhodes on evacuation flights due to severe wildfires that swept across parts of the Greek island.

The extreme weather is not limited to heat. Torrential rain and flash floods have swept through much of Europe, with cars being swept away by flash floods in parts of France and the Netherlands. Severe storms have proven deadly in the mountains of Germany and Austria, where two young hikers died after being struck by lightning bolts. Warnings are in place as more stormy weather is expected.

In Britain, temperatures are expected to reach the mid-20Cs this week as the weather improves for the start of the summer holidays. Rain and cloudy conditions are forecast across the UK today, with some areas seeing heavy showers before spells of warm sunshine develop. The Met Office predicts highs of 24C in South East England today, with drier and brighter weather expected tomorrow and Wednesday.

Another weather system will move into Britain from the west on Thursday, bringing wet conditions to most of the country before sunny spells and some showers on Friday. High pressure is likely to build during the weekend, bringing drier and more settled weather, especially across southern areas, with similar temperatures.