Heat Wave Persists in Italy and Spreads to Western Europe Ahead of Solar Eclipse
Red heat warnings remain in place for much of southern and western Italy through Saturday, while forecasts call for a return of high temperatures in Spain, France and the United Kingdom next week.
Red high-temperature warnings, the highest alert level, stay in effect for much of southern and western Italy through Saturday, with the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service projecting midday temperatures near 40 °C (104 °F) across inland regions such as Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily. While a brief cooling trend reached northern France and Britain earlier this week, forecasters expect temperatures to rise again next week in the areas most affected by this summer’s extreme weather.
Sea surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean are more than 2 °C above normal, creating a moderate-to-strong marine heat wave in the Mediterranean and a severe marine heat wave off the coasts of Portugal, France and southern England. The U.K. Met Office has warned that parts of East Anglia and southeast England could see temperatures of 36 °C (97 °F) by Thursday, with the peak heat expected on Wednesday for Wales and most of England.
In southeastern France and Corsica, temperatures have topped 40 °C on several occasions since Wednesday, and Météo-France officials are preparing the public for another round of similar conditions. Forecasts indicate a gradual climb in temperatures from Wednesday to Friday, potentially reaching 35 °C in central France and approaching 40 °C in the south, marking France’s third heat wave of the season, comparable to those of 2017 and 2022.
Spain, which has faced persistent heat, drought and wildfires, is also expected to experience temperatures near 40 °C ahead of the total solar eclipse on Wednesday, according to AEMET. The hot, dry conditions could raise the Forest Fire Danger Index, increasing the risk of fires that might produce smoke and affect eclipse visibility.