Heat chaos on vacation: 40 degrees in Greece and drought in Italy!

Heat chaos on vacation: 40 degrees in Greece and drought in Italy!

Worrying temperatures have been reported in Europe in recent days, posing major challenges for travelers in holiday regions such as Greece, Italy and France. The Foreign Office has issued a warning about the danger of heat, particularly for the Mediterranean region. Temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius are possible in Greece, with the Greek islands particularly affected. Holidaymakers are strongly advised to pay attention to current weather reports and avoid crowded places and direct sunlight to avoid health risks. These warnings come in the context of a general heat wave affecting southern and western Europe.

In Italy, central and southern Italy in particular, including Sardinia, is suffering from a water shortage that has been going on for several weeks. A medium drought warning level has been declared in these regions. In addition, parts of southern France are also struggling with drought, which significantly increases the risk of forest fires. Travelers should find out more about the current conditions in the respective travel countries before their departure in order to avoid possible dangers.

Global dimension of heat waves

The current situation in Europe is part of a larger global challenge. In recent weeks, heat records have been reported in the northern hemisphere: examples include temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius in North America and even over 50 degrees Celsius in northwest China. Southern Europe saw peaks of up to 46 degrees in Italy and 45 degrees in Spain, while temperatures reached 40 degrees in France. These extreme heat waves often last for several days and pose a risk not only to the population, but also to infrastructure and nature.

A worrying trend can also be seen in the weather history of Germany and other European countries. 2022 was noted as the sunniest and warmest year on record, with an average temperature 2.3 degrees higher than the comparable period 1961-1990. Since 1881, the temperature in Germany has risen by 1.7 degrees, which is above the global average. These developments have also had significant consequences: in 2022, 2,397 forest fires were recorded in Germany, and the heat waves led to an estimated excess mortality of 4,500 people in the country and at least 15,000 in Europe.

Measures against the current situation

In view of the alarming climate data and the resulting drought emergencies in Italy, France and Germany, the federal government has taken measures. A national heat protection plan was proposed to better protect particularly vulnerable groups such as older people, pregnant women and people with previous illnesses. In addition, a national water strategy was adopted in March 2023, which aims to improve water management and be better prepared for such extreme events in the future.

The impacts of heatwaves and drought events are complex and require manageable action at national and international levels. Climate change has a wide range of consequences, and forecasts predict further warming by the end of the 21st century, which could range between 1.0 and 5.7 degrees. This primarily affects regions that have contributed the least to climate change and includes, among other things, the ongoing extreme weather events in the coming year with the occurrence of El Niño, which is considered a possible amplifier of such disasters.

For Europeans planning trips in the coming months, it is important to consider not only their own comfort, but also the climatic conditions that can significantly affect their vacation.

Derwesten.de reports that temperatures in Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, are rising and holidaymakers in affected countries in particular are being urged to exercise caution. For more information about global heatwaves and their impacts, visit bpb.de.