Blistering heat wave lashes Israel and Europe, set to last several more days
Health Ministry warns public to stay in cool environments, drink lots of water and avoid physical exertion
srael joined Europe over the weekend in suffering from a blistering heat wave that has been dubbed “Kleon,” with temperatures expected to rise to around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and above in some parts of the country.
Temperatures were expected to remain very high until Monday, with a slight drop starting on Tuesday.
The Health Ministry has warned the public, and particularly the elderly and others whose health is compromised, to avoid the heat and sun in the coming days as well as physical exertion, and to remain in cooler environments and drink water.
The public has also been forbidden from starting fires in the open due to an increased risk of out-of-control blazes.
The heat is lashing southern Europe too. In Greece, disgruntled tourists bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens on Friday as Greek authorities proactively shut the world monument’s gates between midday and early evening amid the heat.
Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long lines hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple.
In Spain, people packed the beaches as the country enjoyed a short-lived respite from its second heat wave of the summer. Temperatures were still to reach 40ºC in at least 12 of Spain’s 17 regions Friday, although that was down from a high of 45ºC (113ºF) that scorched the southeastern town of Albox on Wednesday.
In Italy, the country’s health ministry on Friday warned residents of 10 cities from Bologna to Rome to avoid being out in the midday heat due to extreme temperatures. The same warning has been issued to another five cities in Sicily, Sardinia and Puglia for this weekend. Temperatures in the country were expected to reach 12ºC (53.6ºF) above average in some areas this weekend.
On the island nation of Cyprus in the southeastern Mediterranean, people clustered under air conditioning units and cooling fans set to full blast, as midday temperatures inland were forecast to hit a high of 43ºC (110ºF).
Temperatures weren’t expected to go below 25ºC (77ºF) through the night, while humidity levels especially along the southern coastline were expected to reach an uncomfortable 65%.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg weighed in on the high temperatures in a post on Twitter, saying global heat records should serve as an urgent wake-up call.
“Last week we experienced the hottest days ever recorded, many days in a row. We are also experiencing record-high sea level temperatures and record-low ice levels. This is an emergency.”
