British holidaymakers in the Mediterranean are being cautioned about dangerous temperatures reaching highs of 48.8C, as Europe continues to grapple with a deadly weather system
originating from the Sahara desert. While the anticyclone system named Cerberus is currently affecting the continent, Italian meteorologists are now warning of yet another brutal heatwave on the horizon.
This upcoming heatwave, named 'Charon' after Hades' ferryman in Greek mythology, is expected to push temperatures back up to 43C in Rome and as high as 47C in Sardinia next week. Land surface temperatures in parts of southern Spain reached a scorching 60C on Thursday, prompting the European Space Agency to issue warnings of potential record-breaking temperatures across the continent next week.
In Athens, Greece, soaring temperatures led to the transportation of tourists from the Acropolis citadel to ambulances for medical assistance. Tragic incidents, including the death of a 44-year-old street painter in Lodi, Italy, and the drowning of two children in Manfredonia, have been attributed to people seeking relief from the extreme heat.
Cerberus, named after the three-headed dog in Greek mythology guarding the gates of the Underworld, will cause temperatures to soar above 45C in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey by the end of next week. The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily are expected to bear the brunt of this unforgiving heat, with reports suggesting temperatures could reach a staggering 48.8C.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, temperatures are expected to cool off as the weekend approaches. Cerberus is not anticipated to have any impact on the UK, and the Met Office does not foresee a heatwave hitting the country this summer. Photo by Funk Dooby, Wikimedia commons.