A heat wave is over the northwestern parts of Africa. The warm air has now started to spread over Europe – and in Spain it will be over 40 degrees.
– This air flows up from Africa and eastwards across the continent, says Lasse Rydqvist, meteorologist.
45-50 degrees. That’s how hot it is in the heat wave that is currently gripping several countries in northwest Africa. The heat wave is spreading over the Mediterranean and this week several European countries will get over 40 degrees.
– It’s not just Spain that will be warm, also southern France, Austria and Italy, says Lasse Rydqvist.
“Extreme numbers”
According to the latest forecasts, however, Spain will suffer the worst of the heat. Where the Swedes’ favorite destination, Mallorca, can get up to 44 degrees.
– In parts of southern Spain, on Mallorca, where many Swedes are now, it could be 40 degrees tomorrow. In August last year, Mallorca had a temperature of 44.5 degrees, which was the highest August temperature ever, he says and continues:
– We reach these quite extreme numbers out on the islands.
The red warnings mean that it can be a strain on the body, even for those who are not part of risk groups.
Swedish Gabriela: Keeps us indoors
Swedish Gabriela Babic is on holiday with her family in Croatia. They are on the island of Murter, where the temperatures are now so high that they are forced to stay indoors.
– Now it is upwards of 34 degrees in the shade. It’s a different kind of heat compared to Sweden, it’s like walking into a warm wall when you go out, she says.
People on the island are being asked to stay indoors as much as possible. Especially in the middle of the day, when the temperature is at its highest.
– It is so hot that we have stayed indoors except when we go out and try to cool off in the pool. It’s a caution on a completely different level, this week is going to be the hottest this summer, she says.
Temperatures rise to the north
Several countries have issued weather warnings for the hot temperatures, from the Mediterranean Sea up over Germany.
– In southern Spain, a red warning is issued, i.e. the most serious warning category, for high temperatures. They have also warned away to Croatia, where it is expected to be over 35 degrees today and tomorrow. In the south of France and in Germany and the surrounding area, there are warnings of high temperatures, he says.
Also over the Balkans, the temperature is expected to rise to 40 degrees on Tuesday.
– Towards the Balkans and further over towards Serbia, high temperatures are expected there, they have warned of close to 40 degrees on Tuesday, he says.
The high temperatures do not only prevail during the day, the heat is also expected to remain during the nights.
– We have high minimum temperatures and even during the nights it gets hot, especially over the Iberian Peninsula.