Europe Tourist Hotspots Face Extreme Heatwave with Temperatures Exceeding 40C

Tourist hotspots around Europe are facing the first major heatwave of the summer with extreme temperature warnings in place in Spain, while Greece has seen highs in excess of 40C with authorities advising people to stay indoors.

The Spanish weather agency AEMET has warned of extreme temperatures exceeding 40C across much of the country this weekend.

In Madrid the usually busy streets are dotted with residents and tourists seeking relief from the heat, with a severe high temperature warning in place.

Some on the streets were carrying portable fans, with others resting in the shade or under water sprinklers installed in public areas.

For some residents, the heat has become a daily struggle.

\"Honestly, it's tough,\" says Marina, a 22-year-old marketing intern. \"There’s no sea here, barely any pools in Madrid. You sweat so much, it’s just unpleasant.\"

Janeth, a 47-year-old street vendor, described the heat as \"exhausting\" and says it forced her to change jobs.

As the sun reflects off the city's buildings and umbrellas bloom across plazas, the early arrival of such extreme heat has taken many by surprise. \"It always gets hot in Madrid,\" Marina added, \"but for it to be this intense in June? That’s shocking.\"

Barcelona City Council meanwhile has activated a heat plan as a preventative measure until mid-September to make municipal resources and air-conditioned spaces available to citizens over the summer period.

Temperatures in Greece yesterday surpassed 40C with authorities advising the public to stay indoors.

At the Acropolis in Athens scores of tourists endured the heat with the help of hats, fans and umbrellas while air-conditioned centres were made available to the public to find refuge until the evening.

Authorities set up a hotline for anyone requiring medical advice due to the heat.

They also advised residents not to throw out rubbish during peak heat hours in the middle of the day, to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and to restrict their movements.

Authorities also banned outdoor work for builders and delivery staff from 9am to 2pm local time, and encouraged remote working.

The fire brigade said it was on standby and warned of a high risk of fires in central and southern Greece.

On Thursday, a wildfire in a coastal town south of Athens damaged homes.

Meteorologists said temperatures will start to dip on the weekend.

Greece has often experienced hot and dry summers, but longer and more severe heatwaves have been more frequent in recent years along with wildfires amid a changing climate.

In the UK, temperatures could hit 30C amid the second amber heat health alert in two weeks.

Yesterday, temperatures reached 29C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and the weather is forecast to climb over the next couple of days, according to the Met Office.

It comes as a second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force yesterday.

The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday.

Ireland meanwhile is not expected to experience such highs anytime soon.

Cloudy, damp and humid conditions will linger this afternoon further south and east with highest temperatures of 17 to 22C expected.