In order to safeguard visitors, the Acropolis, the most well-known tourist destination in the nation, was closed during the warmest times of the day.
As another heatwave approaches, perhaps record temperatures are anticipated the next week.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), extreme weather may be present across Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland.
Through its satellites, the ESA tracks the temperatures of the land and the ocean.
In Sicily in August 2021, 48.8C was the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe.
Greece is also concerned about an increased danger of wildfires, particularly in places with strong winds. In 2021, during yet another extreme summer, it saw significant wildfires.
On Thursday, fires started in Croatia, destroying homes and automobiles in at least one village along the Dalmatian coast named Grebastica. On Friday morning, officials informed Croatian TV that the fire had been put out.Central Europe has also been experiencing high temperatures, with Poland and Germany among those affected.
The Czech meteorological agency issued a warning that weekend temperatures could exceed 38C, which is unusually high for the nation.
In the UK, Saturday is anticipated to bring strong gusts and heavy rain to portions of England.
According to meteorologists cited by PA, the southern shift of the jet stream, which was causing Europe’s scorching weather, was also sending colder and unsteadier low-pressure systems to the UK.
A guy in his forties died from heatstroke earlier this week after falling in northern Italy, and other tourists have also passed out there, including a British man outside the Colosseum in Rome.
The three-headed monster from Dante’s Inferno, called Cerberus by the Italian Meteorological Society, is the source of the heatwave.
The following heatwave, known as Charon after the ferryman in Greek mythology who carried souls to the underworld, is expected to raise temperatures back beyond 40C the following week, according to Italian weather forecasters.
Additionally, portions of the US, China, North Africa, and Japan are experiencing heatwaves.
The Acropolis will be closed on Friday from 12:00 to 17:00 (9:00–14:00 GMT), according to the Greek Ministry of Culture. Similar actions are anticipated on Saturday.
Although the Acropolis, which is perched on a rocky slope and typically gets hotter, was projected to reach a high of 41C on Friday in central Athens.
The slope offers little respite in the form of shade.
According to local authorities, at least one visitor was taken by stretcher from the location earlier on Friday after becoming ill as a result of the heat.
Other tourist attractions in the area of the Sacred Rock, where the Acropolis is located, remained open all day.
The Greek Red Cross has recently been called upon to offer water bottles and aid those who are experiencing nausea and lightheadedness due to the heat.
It has been suggested that people drink at least two liters of water each day and steer clear of dehydrating substances like alcohol and coffee.
According to the EU’s climate monitoring program Copernicus, last month was the warmest June ever.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has cautioned that extreme weather brought on by a changing climate is “unfortunately becoming the new normal.”
Natural weather cycles include hot spells, but due to global warming they are happening more frequently, getting hotter, and lasting longer.
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