By Elliot Hartman | The Maple Times
Southern Europe is baking under a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 42 °C in parts of Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Balkans Governments across the region have issued heat warnings and activated emergency measures.
Why It Matters
Officials are alerting citizens—particularly the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions—to risks like heatstroke, dehydration, and wildfire outbreaks . Cooling centers have opened in France and Italy; outdoor work bans are in effect for midday hours.
On the Ground
Spain’s AEMET meteorological agency has recorded 42 °C in some inland valleys, prompting red alerts in major cities Greece has battled wildfires near Athens, resulting in evacuations Meanwhile, the Balkans are under heat dome warnings of 40 °C+ temperatures combined with worsening drought.
Climate Context
Experts link the heatwave to climate change–driven heat domes, which are expected to intensify frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Europe .
