When Europe's 48C heatwave could end as Brits scramble to change holiday plans

17 July 2023 , 02:45

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Fires in La Palma have sent alarm bells ringing across the region (Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

British holidaymakers are scrambling to change their summer plans as Europe continues to sizzle in a scorching heatwave.

The continent is currently battling temperatures rocketing into the 40Cs. Spain and Croatia are being ravaged by raging wildfires, forcing mass evacuations and sending alarm bells ringing across the region.

There are also 16 cities across Italy under a heat storm alert, with 49C forecast for next week. Faced with this dire warning, many holidaymakers have been compelled to revise their carefully laid-out plans, seeking out cooler alternatives to escape the stifling conditions.

The Met Office has said the extreme heat is down to the effects of climate change, as well as the high-pressure system lingering over the southern Mediterranean and thick clouds of Saharan dust intensifying conditions.

Europe is being ravaged by wildfires sparking mass evacuations (WXCharts)

Symbolically named "Cerberus" after the mythical guardian of the gates of Hell, this heatwave is proving to be an infernal challenge for Italians, taxing their resilience to the limit.

Met Office says UK will be battered by monster rain storm with 4 inches falling

Many are dying to know when the heatwave could relent. The Met Office predicts it could persist for at least another week, but could possibly continue for longer in some areas.

However, Spain is expected to be hit by cooler weather sweeping in from Wednesday.

While southern Europe is being hit by stifling temperatures, it is a very different situation in the UK with heavy winds and storms this weekend.

Outbreaks of rain will continue over the coming days while temperatures are expected to remain in the low 20Cs.

And Tuesday will see a heavy band of rain cross central and northern parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said that the pattern of changeable weather was expected to continue for another month.

“It’s fairly disappointing for the middle of July, nothing particularly warm or sunny," he said. “At the moment, the main signal on our long-range models is there is a signal for things turning drier and warmer but not until mid-August.

“The weather pattern is blocked and not changing which is part of the reason why things got so warm in southern Europe, because that high pressure is just sitting there, keeping that warmth growing, but unfortunately it is keeping us in this more changeable airstream, so nothing too wonderful for the next couple of weeks.”

Hannah Kane