Yahoo News Holidaymakers warned as Spain and Greece face deadly 46C summer heatwave
Temperatures in Spain and Greece are forecast to hit up to 46C over the coming days with holidaymakers being warned of a deadly heatwave.
The latest weather maps show that a number of tourist hotspots will continue to be gripped by scorching temperatures in mid-July. It comes after health and safety alerts were issued for the extreme heat earlier this month.
Mainland Europe continues to endure another dangerously hot summer, leading to wildfires and several fatalities. WXCharts' maps, which utilise forecast data from MetDesk, indicate that areas around Seville and Malaga in Spain are most likely to reach the peak temperature of 46C, while Madrid is set to swelter at 40C.
READ MORE: Turkey holidaymakers warned over extreme temperatures set to hit the country this summer
The mid-July forecast for Greece mirrors this, with most cities predicted to hover around 42-43C and Thessaloniki expected to hit a high of 45C. This blistering weather will affect thousands of Brits heading off on their summer holidays in the coming weeks, with tourists advised to keep abreast of the latest forecast alerts and heed advice to stay safe in the heat, the Express reports.
Last week, the British Red Cross issued a warning to holidaymakers to take precautions against the perils of hot weather when travelling overseas. This includes staying indoors during peak daytime temperatures.
Recognising the symptoms of heat exhaustion is also crucial as it can rapidly escalate into a health crisis if it progresses to heatstroke.
William Spencer, climate and first aid product manager at the British Red Cross, said: "Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and getting worse because of climate change. Sadly, we have seen cases already this year of the tragic impact high temperatures can have on human life."
He advised: "Other safety tips include wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of water and drinking less alcohol. You can also help keep wherever you're staying cool by keeping blinds and windows closed during the hottest parts of the day."
According to the NHS, signs of heat exhaustion include tiredness, dizziness, headache, feeling or being sick, excessive swearing, heat rash, muscle cramps, fast breathing, a high temperature, excessive thirst and weakness. If someone has symptoms of heat exhaustion, they should be moved to a cool place and given a sports or rehydration drink or cool water, while all unnecessary clothing should be removed and their skin cooled with water, cold packs or a fan.
The Greek Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, attributed the recent heatwave in the southern European hotspot down to the climate crisis. "People need to understand that climate change is happening and that they need to be very careful," he said, adding: "We have had cases of foreign travellers who lost their lives in Greece."
Over in Spain, the country's Ministry of Health has released a new map to provide more accurate heat alerts following a series of extreme temperature warnings issued earlier this month. The map breaks the country down from 52 provincial areas into 182 "meteohealth zones", showing the temperature thresholds that trigger heat deaths which can vary considerably between provinces.
