Torridness

Swathes of southern and eastern Europe sweltered in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104F) on Aug. 4 in a heatwave nicknamed "Lucifer" that has fanned forest fires, triggered weather warning alerts and damaged crops.

August holidaymakers head off to the Greek islands Friday as a new heat wave is expected to grip many parts of the country this weekend. According to forecasts by the country's national meteorological service, temperatures will rise up to 41 degrees Celsius in several areas of the Greek mainland, particularly in the west and northwest, as well as in the western Peloponnese.

A heatwave that has been causing great trouble across southern and southeastern Europe for weeks now has been dubbed "Lucifer."

This is according to the Mirror, which said that "countries such as Spain, Italy and Croatia are set to see blistering 40 degrees Celsius heat, which has triggered a series of severe warnings."

August holidaymakers will be pleased to be on the beach this weekend, as the national meteorological service has forecast high temperatures in many parts of the country.

According to the HNMS, temperatures will rise up to 41 degrees Celsius on many parts of the Greek mainland, particularly in the west and northwest, as well as in the western Peloponnese.

The City of Athens and other municipal authorities around the country are keeping community centers and other air-conditioned facilities open all day to offer citizens protection from the heat wave, for as long as it lasts.

A group of tourists, holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun,w alk up the steps at Syntagma Square in Athens. A summer heat wave has hit Greece, with temperatures reaching a high of 43 degrees in the capital this weekend.

The City of Athens and other municipal authorities around the country said on Tuesday that they will keep community centers and other air-conditioned facilities open all day as of Wednesday to offer citizens protection from the heat wave, for as long as it lasts.

Greece is bracing itself for an African heatwave starting from Thursday, when temperatures are expected to reach over 42-43 degrees Celsius. The heatwave is similar to the great heatwave of 2007, according to meteorologist Giannis Kallianos.

A heat wave that has seen temperatures in many parts of Greece shoot past the 35 Celsius mark will only get worse as the week wears on, meteorologists warned on Sunday.

Europe is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave with temperatures in major cities across the continent reaching record values for the start of summer. On the day of summer solstice on Wednesday, June 21, which is the longest of the year temperatures in Paris climbed to 37 degrees Celsius, 38 in Madrid and 34 in London, and are approaching record highs for this time of the season.