Are you flying to Lisbon, the south of Italy or the Spanish coast this week? Then take into account the tropical temperatures there. There are heat waves in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. This makes it very dry and there is a risk of wildfires.
Bloody bloody hot
Holidaymakers mainly find the highest temperatures in the south of Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. That’s where the blood gets hot. “Temperatures will be highest in Spain in the coming days,” says weatherwoman Diana Woei Weatheronline† “For example, 44 degrees Celsius is expected in Seville tomorrow at the hottest time of the day. The heat will last until next Sunday.” In other places, the thermometer can even indicate 46 degrees.
Exceptional situation in Spain
The heat in Europe started on Sunday and can last nine to even ten (!) days. That doesn’t happen often. If the expectation comes true, there will be an unusually long heat wave. “It is then one of the longest three since 1975,” says Woei.
This heat wave in Spain is therefore very exceptional. “Heat waves do occur every year in the southern countries, but as long and extreme as it is in Spain now is almost unprecedented.”
Rare warm
Next week, the heat looks set to moderate a bit. “But with 37 to 39 degrees it is still very hot.” The fact that it is so ridiculously hot in Spain now has to do with the air pressure distribution and how long this pattern lasts. Woei: “Spain has often had to deal with a south to south-east wind in the near future and in recent times, and therefore air from the Sahara.”
Tips against the heat
The weather lady has a few tips for holidaymakers going to Spain this week: “Keep your cool and make sure you stay in the shade at the hottest time of the day.” So don’t lie in the sun all day long. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water, because all that sweating can quickly dehydrate you. Check out the first signs of dehydration here. “Fortunately, in the southern countries the houses are well built for the heat. They often keep the shutters closed to prevent the sun’s rays from hitting the glass.”
Apply well
If you do go out into the sun, lubricate yourself well with sunscreen. In the middle of summer, the sun is very high, so you can burn quickly. In the middle of the day the sun is 8 and 10. Without protection you can burn for several minutes. Any sunscreen left over from last year? This way you know whether the cream is still good.
Are you going on holiday with your (grand)children? Those warm sticky nights make sure you don’t sleep a wink. This can help:
Source: Weatheronline