Heatwave in Europe

Spain wildfires threaten homes amid Europe heatwave warnings

BBC,

7 August, 2015

Wildfires have forced more than 1,400 people to leave their homes in western Spain as dry, hot conditions spark warnings in other European countries.

Towns and campsites have been evacuated as planes and helicopters help to tackle the blaze in Spain's Sierra de Gata mountain area.

Nearly 80% of neighbouring Portugal is experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions, experts say.

Meanwhile Germany is facing its hottest temperatures on record.

Meteorologists say temperatures in Germany's south could exceed the country's all-time high of 40.3C (105F) on Friday.

The current record was measured on 5 July in the town of Kitzingen in Bavaria.

Exceptionally dry

Some 330 firefighters and other emergency crew members were deployed as fires, fanned by strong winds, threatened homes in Spain's Extremadura region in the early hours of Friday, according to reports.

The blaze has burned more than 5,000 hectares (12,400 acres), local police said in a statement (in Spanish).

Temperatures have hit 40C during a heatwave in the east of France.

More fires destroyed about 3,000 hectares of forest and scrubland near the towns of Lorca and Cieza, near Murcia, in the south-east of the country.

Exceptionally dry conditions, rising temperatures and moderate winds have also increased the risk of forest fires in Portugal, officials there said.

The Portuguese Weather and Sea Institute said in a monthly report published on Thursday that average rainfall in July was only 3.5mm (0.1 inches). The usual amount for July is almost 14m.

Warnings are also in place for extreme heat in eastern France.

But the UK is forecast to see temperatures peak at about 25C  over the weekend.

British holidaymakers warned about travel to Cyprus as temperatures hit 57C and steering wheels MELT

• Mercury in car thermometers in Nicosia have peaked at 63C
• ABTA advises tourists to stay clear of the beaches in the midday heat
• Usually the average August temperature there is between 30 and 40C

Daily Mail,

6 August, 2015

British holidaymakers have been given warnings about travelling to Cyprus after temperatures rocketed to a sweltering 57C, according to street thermometers.

One car thermometer in Nicosia even registered 63C as an outside temperature, with the heat being so extreme that steering wheels have started to melt and one resident put her iPhone in the fridge to keep it working.

Tourists have been warned to avoid being out in the sun during midday heat and to spend their time in the shade. 

Many people in Cyprus have taken to social media to share their heatwave experiences.

One Twitter user shared a picture of temperature-recording devices in the street showing highs of 57C.

Speaking to the Mirror, the ABTA Travel Association said: 'These are the temperatures you usually associate with places like Iraq.

'We would advise people to avoid the beaches at midday when the sun is at it hottest. Watch what the locals do and spend lunchtime in the shade.'

They also advised tourists to drink lots of water, take advantage of the hotel's air conditioning and use a high factor suntan lotion.

Although hot conditions are usually the norm in August in Cyprus, the Met Office told the paper that the country was experiencing even hotter temperatures than usual due to a heatwave in the Middle East.

Cyprus's Department of Meteorology issued an orange warning, which means dangerous weather.

Typically the average August temperature for the country is between 30 and 40C. 

Tourists have been warned to avoid being out in the sun during midday heat, and to spend their time in the shade

Twitter user Megan Smith said: 'I don't understand why it's still so hot! feel like I can't escape the heat #CyprusHeatwave.' 

Meanwhile Marios Karatzias wrote: 'Heat wave #Cyprus and my #iphone refuses to operate! A few mins in the fridge solved the problem.'   

Yesterday BGN News reported that a four-day work ban, starting next week, will be observed between midday and 4pm.

It is hoped the restrictions will protect outdoor labourers, with all workplaces that do not adhere to the ban being subject to a fine. 

The heatwave is so extreme steering wheels have started to melt and iPhones have overheated, with some car thermometers logging 63C