Spain sweats out sultry nights as heat wave bakes southern Europe
Spain sweats out sultry nights as heat wave bakes southern Europe
A man jumps into the sea on a breakwater in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A newly married couple poses for photos during sunset as a man takes a dip in the water in Lagonisi southeast of Athens, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The government has announced emergency measures for later this week, allowing workers to stay home during peak temperature hours as a heat wave is due to affect most of Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A woman sunbathes at Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man carries a beach umbrella as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A man cools off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man cools-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A woman walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A woman walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man jumps into the sea on a breakwater in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A man jumps into the sea on a breakwater in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A newly married couple poses for photos during sunset as a man takes a dip in the water in Lagonisi southeast of Athens, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The government has announced emergency measures for later this week, allowing workers to stay home during peak temperature hours as a heat wave is due to affect most of Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A newly married couple poses for photos during sunset as a man takes a dip in the water in Lagonisi southeast of Athens, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The government has announced emergency measures for later this week, allowing workers to stay home during peak temperature hours as a heat wave is due to affect most of Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A woman sunbathes at Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A woman sunbathes at Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man carries a beach umbrella as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man carries a beach umbrella as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Children cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People cool off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
People cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A man cools off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man cools off at an urban beach of Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain’s regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man cools-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man cools-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A man walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A woman walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A woman walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A woman walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A woman walks as the people cool-off on the banks of the Ticino river at the Ponte delle Barche (boats bridge) in Bereguardo, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. An intense heat wave has reached Italy, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in many cities across the country. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain sweltered under an unrelenting heat wave Wednesday as temperatures started to build toward what is forecast to be a torrid weekend across southern Europe.
Spain’s weather service said thermometers could potentially hit 45 C (113 F) in southeastern areas of the Iberian Peninsula, which are under alert for extreme heat. That mark was reached Monday in the village of Loja near Granada at the start of the heat wave that is causing restless nights across the country.
More than 100 weather stations registered temperatures of at least 35 C (95 F) as early as 6 a.m. Wednesday, according to meteorologist Rubén del Campo of Spain’s national weather agency.
“On Wednesday, we expect temperatures to fall overall with the arrival of cool winds from the North and East, with the exception of the southeast and southern Andalusia, where hot winds blowing from the interior will cause temperatures to soar,” Del Campo said.
While some relief is in store in the coming days for the Iberian Peninsula, other European countries will sweat through the weekend.
In Italy, 10 cities were put on high heat alert for older people and other vulnerable populations from Bolzano in the north extending southward to Bologna, Florence and Rome. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 C (104 F) in the Sardinian inland Wednesday.
But storms in Italy’s populous northern Lombardy region caused flooding, felled trees and ripped roofs off buildings. More than 200 firefighters responded to emergencies in the regional capital of Milan, Varese, near the Malpensa airport, Lecco, near Lake Como, Sondrio, located in the Alps, and Bergamo.
Temperatures were also starting to tick up in Greece, where a heat wave was forecast to reach up to 44 C (111 F) in some parts of the country in the coming days. Authorities banned access to nature reserves and forests to reduce the risk of wildfires, while municipalities were opening air-conditioned areas in public buildings for people to shelter from the heat.
Greece’s agriculture ministry issued restrictions on the transportation and working hours of animals such as horses and donkeys offering rides in tourist areas during the heat wave. Working animals won’t be allowed to work between noon and 5 p.m. on days where temperatures are between 35-39 C (95-102 F) in the shade, while they won’t be allowed to work at any time of the day when temperatures exceed that range.
Scientists report that heat-related deaths soared in 2022 in Europe, when Spain had a record-hot year. The Mediterranean region is expected to see temperatures rise faster than many other areas of the globe because of climate change.
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Colleen Barry in Milan, and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report.
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