Southern and Eastern Europe are bracing for record-breaking temperatures as a searing heatwave sets in. Parts of Italy could see highs of 48°C in the coming days, potentially reaching "the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe," according to the European Space Agency (ESA), and stoking fears of an increase in heat-related deaths.
Greece, too, has seen highs of over 40°C, forcing the Acropolis in Athens to close during the hottest part of the day to protect visitors. Southeast of the capital, thousands have been forced to evacuate resort towns as wildfires rage.
The extreme weather is partly due to the Charon anticyclone dubbed ‘Cerberus’, which is pushing into Europe from North Africa. This area of high pressure started in the Sahara before moving across northern Africa and into the Mediterranean. The extreme heatwave driven by Charon is forecast to hit the Mediterranean until around the end of July.
Extreme temperatures have hit Europe this year as the world swelters through the El Niño weather pattern, and greenhouse gas emissions warm our climate.
