European countries swelter as heatwave disrupts transport and tourism

SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN Europe have issued weather warnings as a heatwave pushes temperatures towards the 40C mark in France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal, impacting citizens and tourists alike.

More than a third of France is under a red heatwave alert for Sunday, with authorities restricting alcohol sales during Fête de la Musique celebrations in areas facing the most severe conditions.

A prolonged heatwave that began earlier this week has led to the cancellation of dozens of trains in France, and school classes being suspended. 

Fête de la Musique is a national day of festivities that sees events take place in cities and towns across the country. 

Paris deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, looking ahead to the event, said: “the combination of alcohol, heat and proximity to water, those are three risk factors that don’t mix well”. 

France is expected to see temperatures of 39 to 40C on Sunday. 

Germany has also issued widespread heat alerts, with temperatures approaching 38C. Forecasters are also warning of the possibility of thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain over the weekend. 

In Italy temperatures in the northern and central regions are set to reach 40C, for the first time this year in multiple cities. 

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Reuters is reporting that the heat is already affecting tourism in Italy, with visitors seeking shelter from extreme temperatures around Rome’s Colosseum, and queueing for water. 

Spain’s civil protection agency has warned of a prolonged spell of extreme heat affecting most of the country and the Balearic Islands from Sunday and through much of next week.

Schaffhausen, a town in northern Switzerland, on Friday recorded its hottest June temperature ever at 35.7C, and the mercury is expected to rise across the country in the coming days, putting other records at risk.

 Meteorologists have confirmed that England and Wales had already experienced the hottest spring ever recorded, though temperatures in Britain are not expected to be as intense as continental Europe this weekend. 

The UK Met Office has said that temperatures in the low 30s are likely in southern England on Sunday, and the heat is expected to “expand and intensify” on Monday and Tuesday. 

The forecaster has also warned that there is a 40% chance that the UK will beat its highest ever temperature recorded for June of 35.6C, which was set in 1957, and last reached in 1976. 

Meanwhile, Met Éireann is forecasting a largely dry and bright weekend here, with sunny spells and temperatures climbing into the high teens today before rising slightly further on Sunday, and then hitting the 20s next week. 

Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying such extremes, with heatwaves, droughts and floods becoming more intense and frequent.

The current heatwave is already the second of the year for many, and means summer is kicking off for tens of millions of Western Europeans with another spell of extreme heat.

- With reporting from AFP. 

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