Rome — Southern Europe is currently experiencing scorching temperatures as an unrelenting heat wave threatens to break more records. A high-pressure system that originated from North Africa and drifted across the Mediterranean Sea has already disrupted life in Spain and Italy. Named Cerberus after the three-headed dog from Greek mythology that guarded the underworld, this heat wave continues to tighten its grip and is predicted to set temperature records in the coming days.
Authorities have issued warnings about significant health risks, particularly in Spain where temperatures may reach an astonishing 113 degrees Fahrenheit in certain areas. The temperature had already risen to as high as 95 degrees at 6 a.m. in some regions.
While Spain is expected to experience some relief in the coming days, Cerberus is set to unleash its fury on other parts of Europe. Italy has already issued high heat alerts in ten cities, including Bolzano, Bologna, Florence, and Rome, as the country prepares for temperatures that could reach 104 degrees.
The heat wave has already claimed one life—a 44-year-old man who collapsed and died while painting road markings in the northern Italian town of Lodi. The Italian Meteorological Society warns that next week could bring even higher temperatures, potentially breaking the all-time European temperature record of 120 degrees Fahrenheit registered in Sicily in August 2021.
Greece is also feeling the heat, with temperatures expected to reach up to 111 degrees in the coming days. The Greek government has taken preventive measures, such as banning access to nature reserves and forests to reduce the risk of wildfires, and opening air-conditioned public buildings for people to seek shelter.
The government has also imposed restrictions on the working hours for animals, such as horses and donkeys, that give rides in tourist areas.
A recent study revealed that more than 61,000 people died during Europe’s record-setting summer heat waves last year. The Mediterranean region is projected to experience faster temperature increases compared to other areas of the world due to climate change.
Despite a post-COVID boom in tourism, particularly from the U.S., there are already indications that the heat is affecting various sectors of the European economy, including a decrease in workplace productivity and agricultural yields.
In Italy, milk production has dropped by approximately 10% as cows eat less due to the heat, consume larger amounts of water, and produce less milk.
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