Climate change in Europe

Amidst record-breaking temperatures and intensifying heatwaves scorching Türkiye, along with the rest of the world, fuelled by the El Nino phenomenon, a meteorologist has warned that the country should brace itself to experience the hottest day of the year on July 26.

Temperatures receded slightly on Monday but areas in Greece remained in the midst of a heatwave with high temperatures in several regions of the country. According to automated weather stations operated by the National Observatory of Athens and meteo.gr, 32 of these stations recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.

A new maximum temperature record in Greece was registered on Sunday, according to measurements from the automatic meteorological stations of the National Observatory of Athens.

Wildfires across Greece were largely contained on Thursday after razing swathes of forest and dozens of homes for days, though a new heatwave loomed, threatening to stoke tinderbox conditions across the country.

A second heatwave will hit Greece from Thursday until Sunday, pushing temperatures as high as 44 Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit). But even when the heatwave (defined as temperatures at least equal to 39C) recedes, temperatures will remain high for the following several days, meteorologists warn.

A red code for extreme heat has been issued for the majority of major Italian cities amid an intensifying heat wave across Europe, the BBC reported.

Temperatures are expected to peak on Wednesday, with the warning in place for 23 cities, from Trieste in the northeast to Messina in the southwest.

Code red means the heat is a danger to everyone, not just vulnerable groups.

The heatwave engulfing the northern hemisphere, including Greece, is set to intensify this week, causing overnight temperatures to surge and leading to an increased risk of heart attacks and deaths, the World Meteorological Organization said on Tuesday.

The World Meteorological Organization said on Monday that a heatwave affecting the Mediterranean is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August in some places.

New records have already been set for specific weather stations in parts of the northern hemisphere and new national records may also be set, the UN agency's website said.

Summer has just begun in the Northern Hemisphere but a brutal heat wave is already gripping parts of Europe, China and the United States, where record temperatures expected this weekend are a stark illustration of the dangers of a warming climate.

 With Türkiye bracing itself for scorching days ahead following experts' warnings over continuing heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures, the Turkish State Meteorological Service has cautioned that thermometers are likely to climb as high as 43 degrees in especially three provinces of Antalya, Aydın and Manisa.