Europe heatwave latest: Tourist ‘dies of heatstroke’ in Spain while parts of Greece evacuated over wildfires

Key points

• Tourist dies of heatstroke in Mallorca - reports
• What we know about the wildfires and extreme heat across Europe
• Evacuations near Athens as another wildfire hits Greece during heat wave
• Violent storms wreak havoc across France with two dead and dozens injured
• Maps shows fires in southern Italy

Weather forecast across Europe today

Here is AccuWeather’s forecast for cities across Europe today:

• Amsterdam: 23C
• Athens: 39C
• Barcelona: 30C
• Belgrade: 33C
• Berlin: 23C
• Bratislava: 30C
• Brussels: 24C
• Bucharest: 36C
• Budapest: 31C
• Kyiv: 24C
• Lisbon: 34C
• Madrid: 37C
• Paris: 28C
• Prague: 27C
• Rome: 35C
• Sofia: 34C
• Vienna: 30C

People watch the sunset in Lisbon (AP)

Temperatures could hit 30C in England on Saturday amid amber heat health alert

Temperatures could hit 30C on Saturday amid the second amber heat health alert in two weeks.

On Friday, 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 on Friday.

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

(PA Graphics)

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: “The big talking point at the moment is the rise in temperatures we’re going to be seeing over the next few days.”

North-west England, parts of Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could see some rain on Saturday, and Scotland will see average temperatures for the time of year, but across England it could hit between 29C and 30C in the south east, the forecaster said.

On Saturday, there will be some clouds and it will be quite blustery, but it will ease on Sunday.

On Sunday, temperatures will pick up, north-western Scotland may still see rain, but everywhere else will be warmer, with expected highs of 30-31C in the south east.

Tourist dies of heatstroke in Mallorca - reports

A Dutch tourist has died of heatstroke in Mallorca, according to local reports.

The 34-year-old collapsed while hiking with friends in Camí de Son Sales, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Emergency services attempted to resuscitate him but were unable to, the publication reported.

Recap: What we know about the wildfires and extreme heat across Europe

• Europe is bracing for a significant heatwave with temperatures expected to be 5-10C above average, potentially reaching over 40C in popular holiday destinations.
• The extreme heat will affect southern, western, and southeastern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, and Germany, extending from this weekend into next week.
• Major cities like Paris, Rome, Lisbon, and Frankfurt are forecast to experience peak temperatures ranging from 35C to over 42C.
• The heatwave poses risks such as heatstroke, Heat exhaustion, and increased wildfire danger, with Greece already experiencing blazes and France issuing severe fire risk warnings.
• Meteorological agencies across the continent are issuing warnings for high and persistent temperatures, urging caution for exposed and vulnerable individuals.

France issues orange alert for ‘stifling’ heatwave

Paris is facing a heatwave from Monday, with temperatures peaking at 39C on Tuesday and forecasters urging caution for people who have to be outside for longer periods of time.

Mr Nicholls said those temperatures at this time of year for Paris were not common, last occurring in 2022.

In the south of France, temperatures are expected to reach 40C in some areas and authorities have issued a severe fire risk warning and an orange alert for extreme heat for nine departments across central- and south-east France by Saturday.

In inland areas of those departments, temperatures could climb to 42C, Le Parisienreports.

Meteo France warned that high surface temperatures on the Mediterranean Sea could also affect overnight minimum temperatures, “making nights more stifling during the heatwave”.

Popular Italian destinations swelter in prolonged heatwave

Several popular tourist destinations in Italy are expected to swelter through prolonged stretches of temperatures in the high 30s.

In Rome, daytime highs won’t dip below 37C until Thursday, according to Il Meteo, while temperatures in Florence will alternate between 38C and 39C from Monday.

Naples will also reach highs of 37C on Saturday and Monday, while in the northeast, Venice will reach 36C on Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures in other Italian destinations are forecast to be milder, reaching the mid-30s for Naples and high 20s for Bari in Puglia over the weekend.

Germany braces for temperatures to near 40C by the middle of next week

As the heatwave moves north through next week, weather experts warn temperatures in parts of Germany could near 40C by Wednesday.

Climatologist Dr Karsten Brandt from donnerwetter.de told German news outlet Bild“the big heat is coming”.

“Up to 40 degrees Celsius is possible by the middle of next week,” Dr Karsten said.

The forecasting site predicts the heat to remain above 30C for five days and above 35C for three during the upcoming German heatwave.

Frankfurt is expected to reach 38C on Wednesday, while in Berlin temperatures will reach 35C.

Evacuations near Athens as another wildfire hits Greece during heat wave

The entire wider Athens area are on Level 4 of a 5-level scale for the danger of wildfires.

Watch: Violent storms wreak havoc across France with two dead and dozens injured

How common are wildfires in Greece?

Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers.

In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.

But in recent years, climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as wildfires and destructive floods.

Recap: What we know about the wildfires and extreme heat across Europe

• Europe is bracing for a significant heatwave with temperatures expected to be 5-10C above average, potentially reaching over 40C in popular holiday destinations.
• The extreme heat will affect southern, western, and southeastern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, and Germany, extending from this weekend into next week.
• Major cities like Paris, Rome, Lisbon, and Frankfurt are forecast to experience peak temperatures ranging from 35C to over 42C.
• The heatwave poses risks such as heatstroke, Heat exhaustion, and increased wildfire danger, with Greece already experiencing blazes and France issuing severe fire risk warnings.
• Meteorological agencies across the continent are issuing warnings for high and persistent temperatures, urging caution for exposed and vulnerable individuals.

Watch: Wildfires ravage Greek holiday island as fire crews battle blazes and dozens evacuated

Still a high risk of wildfires in Greece this weekend

There is still a very high risk of fire in the regions of Attica and Crete on Saturday, as well as in the Central Greece region, the Peloponnese, North Aegean and Central Macedonia, according to the Fire Risk Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

Britons in Greece have been told to avoid fire risk areas and to use no open flames outdoors.

Evacuations near Athens as another wildfire hits Greece during heat wave

Firefighters are still battling fires in Greece, according to local news

A total of 40 wildfires broke out in Greece in the last 24 hours, the Fire Department said on Friday.

Of the total, 33 were put out immediately in their initial phase, and firefighters were still battling another Seven as of Friday evening, according to local news reports in Athens.

Fire Department's investigators are looking into the causes of the fires.

Pictured: Heatwave across Spain and Greece

People refill their bottles at a public fountain in front of the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona (AFP via Getty Images)

A man refreshes with water in Athens, Greece (Getty Images)

A man gestures as he speaks on his mobile phone while taking shelter from the sun at a bookshop, as a heatwave hits Athens (REUTERS)

Extreme heatwave hits Europe as temperatures set to soar above 40C in holiday hotspots

Pictured: Heatwave and wildfires near Athens

A firefighting airplane sprays water on a hill in Thymari, south of Athens (AP)

A firefighting airplane sprays water on a hill in Thymari, south of Athens (AP)

A tourist holds an umbrella to protect from the sun at the Acropolis hill archaeological site, as a heatwave hits Athens (REUTERS)

Maps shows fires in southern Italy

Google Maps shows several ‘estimated fires’ in southern Italy. According to satellite sources updated in the past six hours there are fires in Venosa, Province of Potenza, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Province of Crotone, San Paolo di Civitate, Province of Foggia, Erchie, BR and in Sicily.

Google Maps wildfire reports (Google Maps)

Tourists and residents seek shade as temperatures soar in Athens

Tourists visiting the Acropolis used umbrellas and fans to protect themselves, while locals retreated indoors, as temperatures over 40C gripped the Greek capital on Friday.

Situated at Europe's southernmost tip in the Mediterranean Sea, Greece has always had hot and dry summers.

But in recent years, climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as wildfires and destructive floods.

Workers had the option of switching to remote working to avoid possible heat exhaustion, while air-conditioned facilities were provided for the elderly.

“We have a really nice temperature in here," 80-year-old Maro Marneri said at a community centre in Athens.

Tourists were less comfortable. “We are all from Pennsylvania and we have never really experienced a heatwave like this before,” Antonia Lasen said.

“At the Acropolis, we were all very hot and it was a little bit slippery to walk up, and the combination of the heat and the marble, I think it was hotter because of the cement, it was like a cement jungle almost, which is very hot.”

Violent storms wreak havoc across France with two dead and dozens injured

With extreme heat also comes violent storms. With heavy rain and storms hitting France and Germany.

Two people were killed and 17 injured during a storm in France that flooded the streets of Paris yesterday.

In the south of France, a falling tree crushed a 12-year-old child to death and a man died when his quad bike hit a toppled tee in the north.

The French civil defence agency said power was lost to 110,000 homes.

Why does London get so hot?

It’s not just Rome and Athens that are set to see scorching temperatures. The mercury could reach 34C degrees in London on Monday, according to the Met Office - but why are the UK’s highest temperatures usually in London?

How common are wildfires in Greece?

Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers.

In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.

But in recent years, climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as wildfires and destructive floods.

Heat maps reveal temperatures could hit 40C

Heat maps reveal just how hot it could get in the coming days.

Temperatures are expected to be 5-10C above average, potentially reaching over 40C in popular holiday destinations.

The extreme heat will affect southern, western, and southeastern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, and Germany, extending from this weekend into next week.

Europe heat map for Monday 30 June (Ventusky.com)

Met Office projections for Friday 27 June (Met Office)

Germany braces for temperatures to near 40C by the middle of next week

As the heatwave moves north through next week, weather experts warn temperatures in parts of Germany could near 40C by Wednesday.

Climatologist Dr Karsten Brandt from donnerwetter.de told German news outlet Bild“the big heat is coming”.

“Up to 40 degrees Celsius is possible by the middle of next week,” Dr Karsten said.

The forecasting site predicts the heat to remain above 30C for five days and above 35C for three during the upcoming German heatwave.

Frankfurt is expected to reach 38C on Wednesday, while in Berlin temperatures will reach 35C.

Pictured: Wildfire in Greece

A wildfire continues to burn forest land on Chios Island, Greece, 24 June 2025 (EPA)

A firefighting helicopter douses a wildfire burning in the coastal region of Palaia Fokaia, some 40km southeast of Athens (EPA)

People watch as a wildfire burns forest land on Chios Island, Greece (EPA)

40 people evacuated by Police

Mayor of Lavreotiki Dimitris Loukas said on Greece's state-run ERT television that several houses were believed to have been damaged by the blaze, but added that exact information on property destruction was not immediately available.

The coast guard said two patrol boats and nine private vessels were on standby in the Palaia Fokaia area in case an evacuation by sea became necessary.

"We're telling people to leave their homes," town councillor Apostolos Papadakis said on Greece's state-run ERT television.

Parts of the coastal road connecting Athens to Sounion were closed in both directions, with people urged to take alternate routes to leave the area.

Fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said 40 people had been evacuated by police, while evacuation orders were issued for a total of five areas.

Popular Italian destinations swelter in prolonged heatwave

Several popular tourist destinations in Italy are expected to swelter through prolonged stretches of temperatures in the high 30s.

In Rome, daytime highs won’t dip below 37C until Thursday, according to Il Meteo, while temperatures in Florence will alternate between 38C and 39C from Monday.

Naples will also reach highs of 37C on Saturday and Monday, while in the northeast, Venice will reach 36C on Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures in other Italian destinations are forecast to be milder, reaching the mid-30s for Naples and high 20s for Bari in Puglia over the weekend.

Recap: Fire on on the eastern Aegean island of Chios earlier this week

Earlier in the week, hundreds of firefighters took four days to bring a major wildfire under control on the eastern Aegean island of Chios.

More than a dozen evacuation orders had been issued for Chios, where the flames devoured forest and farmland.

The fire department said one woman had been arrested on suspicion of having contributed to that fire's start — reportedly by discarding a cigarette.

A man ties a boat at the port of Lithi in Chios, while a wildfire burns through forested land in Island of Chios (EPA)

Where did the wildfire in Greece start?

A large wildfire broke out south of Athens, triggering authorities to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road.

The fire came as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in Greece's first heatwave of the summer.

"Right now, strong land and air forces are fighting a huge battle against the flames, mainly among homes," fire department spokesman Colonel Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said during a press briefing this afternoon.

Twelve water-dropping planes and 12 helicopters and 130 firefighters tackled the blaze. A coast guard firefighting vessel also doused the flames from the sea.

Mapped: Where the wildfires are located

Maps published by the EFFIS - European Forest Fire Information System show the wildfires spanning across the continent.

All the areas with a red dot are areas that have had fires today, orange shows the past seven days.

EFFIS - European Forest Fire Information System shows where the wildfires are across Europe (EFFIS - European Forest Fire Information System)

France issues orange alert for ‘stifling’ heatwave

Paris is facing a heatwave from Monday, with temperatures peaking at 39C on Tuesday and forecasters urging caution for people who have to be outside for longer periods of time.

Mr Nicholls said those temperatures at this time of year for Paris were not common, last occurring in 2022.

In the south of France, temperatures are expected to reach 40C in some areas and authorities have issued a severe fire risk warning and an orange alert for extreme heat for nine departments across central- and south-east France by Saturday.

In inland areas of those departments, temperatures could climb to 42C, Le Parisienreports.

Meteo France warned that high surface temperatures on the Mediterranean Sea could also affect overnight minimum temperatures, “making nights more stifling during the heatwave”.

Spanish and Portuguese temperatures to exceed 40C

Temperatures in Spain began to rise sharply on Friday, with heatwave conditions expected to continue until at least Tuesday with extremely high temperatures potentially reaching 42C in parts of the country, according to Spain’s meteorological office.

“Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people,” the agency said.

In the Canary Islands, temperatures could reach as high as 36C on Saturday, while inland Mallorca will occasionally reach 38C.

Also on the Iberian peninsula, Portugal’s weather forecaster has issued an orange warning for extreme high temperatures over the weekend.

Temperatures in Lisbon and central Portugal are forecast to exceed 42C by Sunday and the high 30s in southern parts of the country.

Pictured: Tourists and elderly cool off in Greece's heatwave

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Pictured: Greece wildfires

(AFP/Getty)

(AFP/Getty)

Germany braces for temperatures to near 40C by the middle of next week

As the heatwave moves north through next week, weather experts warn temperatures in parts of Germany could near 40C by Wednesday.

Climatologist Dr Karsten Brandt from donnerwetter.de told German news outlet Bild “the big heat is coming”.

“Up to 40 degrees Celsius is possible by the middle of next week,” Dr Karsten said.

The forecasting site predicts the heat to remain above 30C for five days and above 35C for three during the upcoming German heatwave.

Frankfurt is expected to reach 38C on Wednesday, while in Berlin temperatures will reach 35C.

Popular Italian destinations swelter in prolonged heatwave

Several popular tourist destinations in Italy are expected to swelter through prolonged stretches of temperatures in the high 30s.

In Rome, daytime highs won’t dip below 37C until Thursday, according to Il Meteo, while temperatures in Florence will alternate between 38C and 39C from Monday.

Naples will also reach highs of 37C on Saturday and Monday, while in the northeast, Venice will reach 36C on Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures in other Italian destinations are forecast to be milder, reaching the mid-30s for Naples and high 20s for Bari in Puglia over the weekend.

France issues orange alert for ‘stifling’ heatwave

Paris is facing a heatwave from Monday, with temperatures peaking at 39C on Tuesday and forecasters urging caution for people who have to be outside for longer periods of time.

Mr Nicholls said those temperatures at this time of year for Paris were not common, last occurring in 2022.

In the south of France, temperatures are expected to reach 40C in some areas and authorities have issued a severe fire risk warning and an orange alert for extreme heat for nine departments across central- and south-east France by Saturday.

In inland areas of those departments, temperatures could climb to 42C, Le Parisien reports.

Meteo France warned that high surface temperatures on the Mediterranean Sea could also affect overnight minimum temperatures, “making nights more stifling during the heatwave”.

Spanish and Portuguese temperatures to exceed 40C

Temperatures in Spain began to rise sharply on Friday, with heatwave conditions expected to continue until at least Tuesday with extremely high temperatures potentially reaching 42C in parts of the country, according to Spain’s meteorological office.

“Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people,” the agency said.

In the Canary Islands, temperatures could reach as high as 36C on Saturday, while inland Mallorca will occasionally reach 38C.

Also on the Iberian peninsula, Portugal’s weather forecaster has issued an orange warning for extreme high temperatures over the weekend.

Temperatures in Lisbon and central Portugal are forecast to exceed 42C by Sunday and the high 30s in southern parts of the country.

Pictured: Water planes tackle wildfires in Greece

(AP)

Greece Wildfire (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Wildfire rips through Greece as heatwave sets in

Urgent evacuation orders have been issued for five communities south of Athens as a large wildfire, fanned by strong winds and exacerbated by Greece's first summer heatwave, rages near the capital.

The blaze broke out on Thursday in the Palaia Fokaia seaside area, with temperatures soaring close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The fire department has deployed 90 firefighters, supported by eight water-dropping planes and five helicopters, to battle the inferno.

Reportedly originating within a populated area, the flames have sent thick plumes of smoke billowing across the sky, with local television footage showing at least one house already consumed by the blaze.

As a precautionary measure, the coast guard has positioned two patrol boats and nine private vessels on standby in the Palaia Fokaia area, ready for a potential evacuation by sea. A lifeboat is also en route to assist with any maritime rescue operations.