Foreign Office alters travel advice in Spain, Turkey and Cyprus amid ‘red alert’

UK holidaymakers have been warned as a “red alert” is issued for people visiting Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and Spain

Brits abroad are being urged to stay vigilant and take necessary measures due to soaring temperatures across these popular European destinations. British tourists are facing a scorching summer in Europe, with Cyprus declaring a RED weather warning. This comes after extreme conditions have already struck Majorca and Austria amidst the peak holiday season.

The current heatwave is attributed to hot, dusty winds from North Africa affecting the region. Greek state TV’s meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos said: “This heatwave will go down in history.”

The UK Foreign Office has promptly “updated” its travel guidance for these countries. Expanding on the unusual weather patterns, Panos added: “In the 20th century, we never had a heatwave before June 19. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before June 15.”

Meanwhile, Majorca has faced severe flooding, causing disruptions at Son Sant Joan airport, Spain’s third-largest, leading to a temporary suspension of operations for safety reasons, as stated by airport operator Aena AENA, reports Birmingham Live. Turkey is experiencing temperatures in the mid-30s, while Greece has seen the mercury rise to an astonishing 45C.

As Paris gears up for the 2024 Summer Olympics, experts are raising alarm about potential extreme heat. A report titled ‘Rings of Fire: Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics’ cautions: “The fact that the Olympics will take place during high summer means that the threat of a devastating hot spell is a very real one.”

British rugby sevens ace Jamie Farndale expressed his concerns, saying: “What we do is push ourselves to our limits, and if we have to do so in conditions that are unsafe I don’t think the athlete would hold back.” Rosie Mammatt, a meteorologist from the University of Reading, highlighted the current climate trends to The Telegraph: “We are already seeing very hot temperatures in the Mediterranean basin, and it looks like the summer could provide some more record-breaking temperatures.”

She also noted the long-term impact of sea temperatures on the region’s climate: “Sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic have been extremely high for a significant period of time, which has been influencing the weather we are getting. This will continue to affect temperatures and precipitation over Europe this summer.”