Europe weather maps turn volcanic red as 45C heatwave sweeps Greece and Turkey
Tourists heading to mainland Europe in countries like Greece and Turkey should brace for another sweltering heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit 45C.
There appears to be no end in sight for the heatwave that has gripped mainland Europe over the past month, as temperatures are predicted to continue to soar to sweltering highs. New weather maps by WXCharts show vast swathes of the popular tourist destinations in Greece and Turkey transformed into dark red, showing temperatures of up to 45C.
On weather maps dated Wednesday, July 23, much of the Greek mainland has vanished under a sea of dark red, with temperatures hanging around 38C to 40C in inland areas and as high as 36C at the coast near the renowned Ionian island of Corfu. In Athens, temperatures look set to reach 34C, almost chilly in comparison with the 39C expected in Thessaloniki in the north and 38 in the southern coastal city of Kalamata. For those holidaying in some of Greece's most popular islands in the Aegean Sea, thanks to the sea breezes, temperatures will hover around the high 20s to low 30s, with the highest expected on Naxos in the Cyclades.
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The highest temperatures, however, will be faced near the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region, Larissa, which is home to around 130,000 residents and boasts impressive ancient ruins of tombs, a marketplace, theatre and even a neolithic village. Here, temperatures are set to reach a sweltering 45C, according to WXCharts.
Moving further east, Turkey will also face similar scorching temperatures on July 16. In most inland areas, temperatures are set to reach between 37 and 40C, including near Balıkesir in the Marmara region. Even at the coast, like in the popular resort city of Antalya in the south of the country, temperatures are set to reach around 43C. Those heading for the capital, Istanbul, will be relieved to hear that temperatures here will only remain around 33C.
However, like the white cloud that will descend on Larissa in Greece, a similar shadow will fall on Izmir and Aydin, the former of which has already suffered from devastating wildfires this summer.
In late June, Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir was forced to ground all flights as crews fought to control a terrifying blaze. Devastating photos showed firefighters working to fight the flames as they ravaged cars and buildings. A total of 625 crew members, 47 fire engines and six helicopters were deployed. More than 50,000 people were evacuated during this time, even in the early stages of the summer in Europe.
The next heatwave will not relent in western Europe, either. Also on July 16, temperatures in Spain are set to reach as high as 42C, especially near Seville, dubbed the "frying pan of Europe." Wxcharts suggests that the rest of the southwest of Spain (including Badajoz and Jaen) will see temperatures between 40C and 41C.
The north of Spain (Zaragoza, Bergos, Leon) and the southeast (Albacete, Murcia) will sit between 33C and 37C, according to the charts. The north coast will be coldest, with highs between 25C and 33C.
