Europe is far from finished with its sweltering heatwave that has gripped the continent over the past few weeks. Once again, temperatures are predicted to soar in several popular holiday hotspots as the British school summer holidays get underway, with highs of 44C predicted in some regions.
These temperatures have turned new weather maps by WXCharts volcanic red, even with swathes of deathly white and grey dotted across countries including Greece, Italy, and Turkey. The charts, dated Monday, July 21, predict temperatures rarely below 36C on the Greek and Italian mainland and well into the 40Cs on the island of Sicily. In the region near the picturesque Greek city of Larissa, few holidaymakers will be able to enjoy its impressive ancient ruins as temperatures are expected to reach a sweltering 44C by 3pm on Monday.
Further north, the areas around Thessaloniki are predicted to face up to 42C in inland areas, dropping only to 37C at the coast. Meanwhile, in the Peloponnese, especially near Kalamata on the south coast, highs will hover around 39C. In the capital, Athens, temperatures are predicted to remain around 35C.
Even the Ionian islands of Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos, which benefit from cooler sea breezes, will see temperatures in the high 20s, with 27C predicted in the south of Corfu.
For those holidaying in some of Greece’s most popular islands in the Aegean Sea, temperatures will hover around the high 20s, with the highest, 30C, expected on Naxos in the Cyclades.
According to WXCharts, wind will bring little relief to the sweltering heat. Vast stretches of the continent are hidden beneath patches of white and grey, showing that wind chill is expected to be above 40C.
Across the sea in Italy, temperatures are not much cooler. Inland areas near the south of the country are predicted to bake under temperatures as high as 42C. Over on Italy’s biggest island, Sicily, temperatures are predicted to reach even higher, with 43C in the centre of the island and only as low as 30C on the northwestern coast.
The coast of mainland Italy is not much cooler, with temperatures only predicted to drop as low as 27C near Naples and 28C near Bari on the east coast.
Finally, it’s a similar story in Turkey. In most inland areas, temperatures are set to exceed 37C, including near Balıkesir in the Marmara region. Even at the coast, like in the popular resort city of Antalya in the south of the country, temperatures are set to reach around 40C. Those heading for the capital, Istanbul, will be relieved to hear that temperatures here will only remain around 34C.