Heatwave tormenting Europe set to see Spain rocket to 45C (113F) today

Brits hoping to enjoy their summer holidays have instead flown into holiday hell in the face of a major heatwave that has seen temperatures in Europe hit 45C (113F).

The heatwave tormenting the European continent that as been dubed Cerberus – a mythical multi-headed dog often referred to as the hound of Hades – saw thermometers in the Spanish village of Loja near Granada record hit the 45C mark on Monday. 

Now, Greece has restricted the working hours of horses and donkeys and forecasters are warning next week could be even worse. 

Greek officials have also blocked people from accessing nature reserves, in a bid to prevent wildfires, and have opened up air conditioned spaces to give people shelter. 

Italy, meanwhile, has issued extreme heat alerts due to the risks the heatwave poses to vulnerable people. 

Temperatures hit highs of 45C (113F) in the Spanish village of Loja near Granada as the heatwave tormented Europe

Greek officials limited access to nature reserves and restricted donkeys’ and horses working hours

Italy issues severe weather warnings as temperatures soared across the country

Spain’s weather service said thermometers could potentially hit 45C (113F) in south-eastern areas of the Iberian Peninsula, which are under alert for extreme heat.

That mark of 45C was already reached on Monday in the village of Loja, near Granada, at the start of the heatwave that has tormented the country this week.

More than 100 weather stations registered temperatures of at least 35C (95F) as early as 6am on Wednesday, according to meteorologist Ruben 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 south-east and southern Andalusia, where hot winds blowing from the interior will cause temperatures to soar,’ he said.

British visitors sought refuge in the shaded areas in the Italian capital yesterday 

A man cools himself off during a heatwave across Italy, in Naples, on July 10. The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily are expected to bear the brunt of the heat, with temperatures predicted to reach 45C 

Although 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 southwards to Bologna, Florence and Rome.

Temperatures are expected to reach 40C (104F) on the Italian island of Sardinia on Wednesday.

Severe storms in Italy’s populous northern Lombardy region, have however, 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.

Shoppers shelter underneath umbrellas from the sun outside a Chanel store in Rome on Wednesday

People cool off in the Barcaccia fountain today as Rome experiences high temperatures

Temperatures are also starting to rise in Greece, where a heatwave is forecast to reach up to 44C (111F) in some parts of the country in the coming days.

Officials banned access to nature reserves and forests to reduce the risk of wildfires, while authorities 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 heatwave.

Working animals will not be allowed to work between noon and 5pm on days where temperatures are between 35C and 39C (95-102F) in the shade, while they will not 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 due to climate change.