As the killer Cerberus ‘heat dome’ leaves much of Europe sizzling in extreme high temperatures, many people’s travel plans are being thrown into chaos.
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With some of those already in Europe reporting it is too hot to leave their air-conditioned hotels, popular holiday pastimes such as sunbathing and strolls in the summer heat are often proving impossible.
Some holidaymakers are even cancelling their planned trips, unwilling to face the intense heat and wary of the health warnings, as a second heatwave dubbed Charon is now incoming from Africa.
So if you’re looking to travel soon, you may be wondering where in Europe is pleasantly sunny right now, and not hitting 40°C.
Let’s find out.
Where is safe to travel in Europe?
At present, it is technically safe to travel to the continent – though some people, especially those in high-risk categories for heatstroke – may prefer not to.
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The Foreign Office is not currently advising against travel to any of the affected countries – though it does advise travellers to register for local emergency alerts in the country they are visiting and to take care in the heat.
So cancelling a trip means you’re not guaranteed to get your money back.
Hoowever, the advice may change so it’s worth keeping an eye on the Foreign Office website.
Where is under 40°C right now?
If you do cancel, or haven’t yet booked and prefer somewhere cooler, it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s southern Europe which is being most affected by the heatwave – particularly Greece, Italy and Spain.
So for more tolerable and safer weather conditions, your best bet is to consider a trip within the UK or Northern Europe.
The Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden and Finland – are currently enjoying mild temperatures similar to the UK, around 20°C.
You might consider countries along the Baltic Sea, including Denmark – which offers lovely islands and beaches.
There’s also Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, all of which currently offer cooler weather and plenty to do and see.
Another option is Belgium, while the Netherlands is also experiencing cooler temperatures around 20C at the moment.
Or if you’re just totally done with the heat and happy to go further afield, Iceland is currently a sunny but chilly 11°C, while Cape Town in South Africa is enjoying sunny winter days around 16°C.
Who is most at risk in a heatwave?
Anyone can be affected by extreme heat, but the NHS warns that certain people are more vulnerable to heatsroke:
- Older people – especially those over 75 and female
- Those who live on their own or in a care home
- People who have a serious or long-term illness including heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease or some mental health conditions
- People who are on multiple medicines that may make them more likely to be badly affected by hot weather
- Those who may find it hard to keep cool – babies and the very young, the bed bound, those with drug or alcohol addictions or with Alzheimer’s disease
- People who spend a lot of time outside or in hot places
Wherever you go, it’s always best to carry a high SPF suncream with you at all times, wear lightweight clothing and stay hydrated – carry a bottle of water around with you and top it up regularly during the day.
You should also avoid drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, and don’t do anything too strenuous between around midday and 5pm, when the sun is at its hottest.
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The post European countries not experiencing 40°C heatwave as continent battles deadly temperatures first appeared on Firenewsfeed!.
