Thermometer

A scorching wave of heat has gripped Bulgaria, setting new temperature records across various regions of the country. Varna and Lovech have emerged as hotspots, with thermometers soaring to unprecedented heights, leaving residents sweltering in the unseasonable warmth.

As Wednesday unfolds, varied weather patterns are expected across Bulgaria, offering a medley of conditions to different regions.

The month of July 2023 was the hottest in central Athens since 1863, according to the records of the National Observatory.

The average 24-hour temperature in July this year was 31.3 degrees Celsius (88.34 Fahrenheit), the highest ever recorded at the observatory. This was followed by July 2012, when the average was 31.1 Celsius, and July 2007, when it was 30.6C.

A warmer-than-usual winter and a two-week heatwave that pushed the thermometer above 40 degrees Celsius on successive days has raised the temperature of Greece's seas by as much as 5 degrees, a report showed on Saturday.

Authorities have ordered the Acropolis to close from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday as temperatures climb to the 40-Celsius mark.

The iconic site has been closed during the hottest part of the day for several days over the past two weeks as Greece struggles with a persistent heatwave that has sent the thermometer in many parts of the country soaring to as high as 45 degrees Celsius.

That is causing problems for countries around the world and prompting them to urgently address climate change, which scientists say will make heat waves more frequent, more severe and more deadly, according to Reuters.

A heat wave engulfing southern Europe this week is expected to send temperatures close to record highs in some areas, prompting officials in Italy, Greece, Spain and elsewhere to impose measures to protect residents and tourists from the scorching conditions.

The heat wave in Europe continues today, with peak temperatures of 46 degrees Celsius expected in the afternoon in southern parts - for example on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Although slight, a decrease is expected tomorrow in the Mediterranean region.

 With Türkiye bracing itself for scorching days ahead following experts' warnings over continuing heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures, the Turkish State Meteorological Service has cautioned that thermometers are likely to climb as high as 43 degrees in especially three provinces of Antalya, Aydın and Manisa.

Spain sweltered under an unrelenting heat wave Wednesday as temperatures started to build toward what is forecast to be a torrid weekend across southern Europe.