Foreign Office changes Spain, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus travel advice with ‘everyone at risk’The Foreign Office has changed its Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus travel advice as a heatwave rocks the European Union. Northern Europe is sweltering and sizzling under an early summer heat wave, according to forecasters.
England and the UK are affected, with temperatures reaching 34C on Saturday. France’s national weather agency, Meteo France, issued a similar warning for western and central parts of the country, cautioning that high temperatures put “everyone at risk, even healthy people.”
Portugal hit 40.5 degrees, the country’s highest temperature this year, last week, while several regions in Spain soared past 42 degrees. And across Greece, minimum nighttime temperatures have hovered stubbornly above 30.
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On its website, the Foreign Office – or FCDO – has warned over extreme heat in four counties. It says: “Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods.
“Extreme temperatures can affect many areas of Turkey over the summer months. Wildfires happen frequently in Turkey during summer.” It adds: “The Department of Meteorology of Cyprus issues warnings for severe weather, especially during summer. Weather can sometimes cause travel disruption. “
The FCDO states: “Temperatures in some parts of Spain can change very quickly. Take extra care when planning a hike or walk. Check local weather reports for warnings of extreme heat or cold temperatures.
“Altitude sickness may be a risk in some of the higher mountain ranges in Spain, particularly in the regions of Granada, Huesca and Tenerife.”
Bas Amelung, a professor in environmental systems analysis at Wageningen University, says that certain parts of Europe might become too hot for many in the future.
“Countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey that currently attract the traditional ‘sun and sand’ summer tourists are likely to become too hot for comfort in the summer,” he says.
“People take decisions based on their perceptions,” he explains. “So if a large majority of holidaymakers thinks some European destinations will soon be ‘too hot’, they may well start adapting, either by going somewhere else in summer or by going to the same place in another season.”