Sweltering weather conditions are likely to continue in Europe, with some of the most popular tourist destinations such as Spain and Greece witnessing soaring temperatures over the rest of the English school summer holidays.

Weather maps from WXCharts show that parts of Spain and Greece are likely to experience 41C in the coming days. Maps compiled using Metdesk data predict that temperatures will soar as high as 41C in Spain on August 17 and around 40C in Greece just over a week later on August 26. 

Over the last month, heatwaves have gripped many countries in Europe pushing authorities to issue health alerts for the locals and tourists.  Even on Friday, Greece Authorities issued a new alert expressing concerns about the potential for a wave of wildfires over the weekend.

A recent study conducted by the IS Global Institute in Barcelona analysed the impact of heatwaves in 800 regions in 35 European countries in 2023, finding a total of 47,690 deaths attributable to high temperatures.

Since Friday, Spain has been grappling with what is likely its most intense heatwave of the summer. The national meteorological agency, Aemet, has warned that temperatures could surpass 40C in parts of Andalusia and the northeast.

The combination of high temperatures and dry conditions has also heightened the risk of wildfires in many areas.

Even Italy has issued red alert warnings in 22 cities as the country braces itself for yet another intense heatwave in a summer that broke all previous records for extreme temperatures.

People are being urged to avoid direct exposure to sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and to stay hydrated.

In the Lazio region, which includes the capital Rome, an emergency plan has been launched to tackle the effects of the intense heat on people’s health.

Lars Lowinski, a meteorologist for Weather & Radar, told Euro News that a combination of heat and humidity is making the weather really uncomfortable for many across western Europe.

It seems hotter when humidity is high because of the amount of moisture in the air. Our bodies naturally regulate temperature by sweating. That sweat evaporating into the ambient air cools us down. When there is more moisture in the air, sweat doesn’t evaporate as much meaning we feel hotter.

He explained: “This same humid heat is affecting large parts of France, the Benelux countries as well as Germany and other central European countries this week.”