Heatwave temperatures return to Europe just a few weeks after a deadly heatwave swept across the continent.
Europe is bracing for another intense heatwave, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C, just weeks after a heatwave episode that caused casualties across the continent. Experts warn of „tropical nights” to follow, with temperatures not dropping below 20°C for 24 hours, as reported by Euronews.
In Spain, the meteorological agency AEMET has issued a yellow weather alert for several areas in the country due to a "significant increase" in temperatures, and an orange alert has been issued for precipitation and storms in the northeast.
According to forecasts, Sevilla, Zaragoza, and Córdoba will be the most affected, with temperatures reaching 40°C by next week. Tropical nights are also expected, with temperatures not dropping below 20°C over a 24-hour period.
France - which recorded multiple deaths during last month's unprecedented heatwave - is preparing for estimated highs of 39°C in the southwest and Bordeaux region.
In Portugal, temperatures are set to rise starting Saturday, and they could remain very high next week, reaching 40°C or even higher in some regions, according to meteorologist Maria João Frada.
"We are already talking about temperatures of around 35 to 40°C until the beginning of next week, but the 40°C threshold will be more limited to inland regions, the interior part of the Douro Valley, Tagus Valley, and the interior of Alentejo," explained Frada, adding that along the west coast, temperatures could reach 35°C.
It will be hot in Italy, Germany and Romania
In Italy, meteorologists warn that hot air from the subtropical latitudes of North Africa will reach the country next week, bringing extremely high temperatures in the south - with Florence possibly recording highs of 40°C.
Also, in Germany, temperatures could exceed 35 degrees Celsius amid an early summer heatwave affecting the country, reported DPA on Wednesday.
The torrid weather will begin on Wednesday, with the German Meteorological Service forecasting temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius in the southwestern regions, with highs of up to 33 degrees Celsius. Thursday is expected to see a further increase in temperatures, and the heatwave will encompass the entire country. The heatwave could be more severe in the Upper Rhine region, bordering France, where temperatures could reach up to 37 degrees Celsius on Friday.
Even countries that usually have cooler weather will face the heatwave in the coming days.
According to early forecasts from meteorologists at wfy24.com, temperatures in the Danube plain in Romania and Bulgaria will approach 38°C, while in Budapest, they will range between 36-37°C as the warm air mass extends over the Carpathian Basin.
"This is not just another hot week; it bears the structural imprints of an atmospheric blocking event, not a passing heatwave episode," said Ionna Vergini, founder of wyf24, to Euronews Earth.
Issues with electrical grids and railway traffic
Vergini describes the sudden rise in temperatures as a "textbook demonstration of the 'new normality'," as heat-trapping pollutants continue to warm the planet.
"What this episode shows about preparedness is an increasingly large structural gap," she says. "Southern Europe has developed a behavioral tolerance to extreme heat: changed routines, siestas, shutters, etc., but this is a behavioral adaptation, not a biological one, and it does not protect physical infrastructure."
Electrical grids, even in warmer regions, struggle to cope with sudden increases in air conditioning usage - while many public transport systems are built on thermal thresholds designed for the late 20th century, making them also vulnerable to intense heat.
Last week, the city of Turin in northwestern Italy faced massive power outages, with the May heatwave putting pressure on the local power grid.
In France, the railway and tram-train operator Transilien urged travelers to check train schedules before heading to the station due to possible disruptions caused by the heatwave.
The hidden dangers of tropical nights
The Mediterranean region is increasingly facing tropical nights. This phenomenon is already impacting public services, such as schools, which are considering changing exam hours to protect students who struggle to sleep due to high nighttime temperatures.
"Sustained nighttime heat is undoubtedly a greater threat to public health than daytime peaks," explains Vergini. "When minimum temperatures do not drop below 20°C and, in the worst cases, remain above 25°C, what some call 'supertropical nights,' the body is deprived of the vital recovery window, and the cardiovascular system is subjected to constant demands to cool the core.
"Excessive mortality during heatwaves is much more strongly correlated with consecutive nighttime lows than with a single hot afternoon," Vergini added.
Tropical nights are more pronounced in cities due to the urban heat island effect. This occurs when heat is trapped between tall buildings and absorbed by large amounts of asphalt and concrete, then released back into the air.