ROME (AP) — Italian health officials intensified heat warnings as southern Europe began a brutally hot week on Monday with temperatures expected to top 40 C — or 104 F — on a continent already overburdened by tourists. The culprit was a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus, the multi-headed dog that guards gates to the underworld in Greek mythology. The mercury in Rome hit 35 C (95 F) just before noon Monday and was forecast to near 40 C (104 F) in the afternoon. Southern Europe’s extreme heatwave will continue for the next 7+ days as a record-strong heat dome parks overhead, bringing extreme heat for days on end. The agency predicts that with the heat and very dry air, the risk of wildfires will skyrocket.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 17, 2023 19:31 UTC