Southern Europe heatwave news: Italy and Spain weather gripped by deadly ‘Cerberus’ heat as European cities placed on red alert

As already reported, the Cerberus heatwave will not bring 40C plus temperatures to the UK – and instead the Met Office has predicted cool winds.

The weather agency has told Sky that it is unlikely that a heatwave will come to Britain this summer, unlike in 2022.

Rachel Ayers said temperatures will be up in August but there is a “below average” chance of super warmth.

Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere in the world may be looking with concern at planned trips to the Mediterranean.

As the busiest summer getaway since 2019 begins, travellers to southern Europe are likely to experience extreme heat. An area of high pressure appears to have settled over the Med with little sign of abating.

The deadly “Cerberus” heatwave (so named by Italian meteorologists) is gripping southern France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, as well as smaller countries in the Mediterranean region.

Greece’s minister of climate change and civil protection has warned that wildfires could hit the country.

“We are going to have fires, we are going to have floods… and we have to deal with what is happening,” Vasilis Kikilias told Sky News.

He added that wildfires are a particular concern when winds pick up in a few days time, as they are forecast to do.

Mr Kikilias said that climate change was behind the extreme weather.

Greece’s government has shared more details of the emergency measures in place to deal with the heatwave.

Temperatures of more than 44C could hit the country within the next week.

The labour ministry has said that when heat stress is high between 12pm and 5pm work must be stopped.

It has also said high-risk members of the private sector must work from home and that special provisions should be given to outdoor workers.

Europe will see different peaks at different times over the next few days.

Germany will see highs of around 34C on Saturday, as will Austria.

But the most extreme heat will come to Italy a little later – with temperatures above 40C expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There is a similar outlook in Spain and France.

The UK has had wet and windy conditions this week while other parts of Europe have baked.

Temperatures are expected to go beyond 40C in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey in the next few days.

The Met Office has instead issued a yellow weather warning for wind for the UK.

On Twitter, the Met Office forecast “strong gusts across southern, central and eastern England,” into Saturday.

The Cerberus heatwave is bringing temperatures to central and southern Europe that are so extreme, heat map graphics are turning the most critical shade of black.

The map turns a dark shade of red when the mercury reaches the high 30s and then creeps into black when it gets to 40C and beyond. Parts of central and southern Spain have already been shaded black, while Greece is also dark over the coming weekend.

Hot weather is expected to be on the way in central and southern Europe in the next fortnight.

Already the heat map for Spain has showed black patches, suggesting the most extreme heat.

Here is a look at what the record temperatures are for countries.

Expected peak this next week: 35C

Expected peak this week: 34C

Expected peak this week: At least 40C

Expected peak this week: 43C

America has also been feeling the impacts of the heat

A prolonged heatwave blanketed a swath of the US stretching from California to South Florida on Wednesday, with forecasters expecting temperatures that could shatter records in parts of the south west in the coming days.

The National Weather Service issued excessive heat advisories, watches and warnings for areas where about 100 million Americans live. The sweltering conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend and continue into next week.

The south west was bracing for potentially deadly heat with much of the area under an excessive heat warning.