Several European countries are preparing for the highest temperatures ever recorded within days, coinciding with an unprecedented heatwave in seven Arab countries, according to the German news agency.
Experts from meteorological agencies have issued warnings that parts of Europe may experience the highest temperatures ever recorded next week, with extreme heat reaching up to 48 degrees Celsius. Such conditions pose threats to human beings, livestock, and crops.
The continent is already in the grip of a severe heatwave named “Cerberus” – one of the “guards of hell” in Greek mythology – after the heatwave shifted from the desert to southern Europe.
The scorching temperatures have caused forest fires in Croatia, while tourists and local residents in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey will struggle to adapt to temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius over the weekend, as reported by the British newspaper “Daily Mail.”
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, temperatures are expected to cool down by the end of the week, as the “Cerberus” wave is not anticipated to have any impact on the country.
The UK’s meteorological office does not expect the heatwave to reach the UK this summer.
Meteorological experts have issued warnings about the impending deadly heatwave, which will be named “Sharon” and is set to begin in a few days. They highlight that the temperatures during this heatwave could break records across Europe.
The ground temperatures – the measure of the heat retained by the Earth – reached over 60 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Spain on Thursday, with the European Space Agency warning that next week could break continental records.
The agency stated that Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland are all facing a major heatwave, with temperatures expected to rise to 48 degrees Celsius on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where the highest temperatures in Europe have ever been recorded.
Meteorological experts warn that the record-breaking temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius, recorded in Italy in August 2021, could soon be surpassed in the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
As Europe prepares for scorching temperatures, powerful heatwaves are also set to hit several Arab countries, pushing temperatures to unprecedented levels.
The United Nations has warned that “the world as a whole is witnessing the highest temperatures ever recorded in its history.”
Preliminary data released by the United Nations-affiliated World Meteorological Organization on Monday revealed that the first week of July has been the hottest week of the year so far.
According to the “Arab Weather” platform, weather maps indicate that a hot mass is expected to affect seven Arab countries: Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, starting from the end of this week.
These countries will experience hot and even extreme heat conditions, with temperatures in Iraq nearing 50 degrees Celsius in the capital city of Baghdad.
The expected rise in temperatures is attributed to what is known as the “heat dome,” caused by the positioning of the Arabian Peninsula’s seasonal high-pressure system in the northern region.
