news weather
By Regis CREPET, meteorologist
Posted 7/24/23, updated 7/24/23 11:18pm
The Mediterranean heatwave has lasted for ten days and will ease by midweek. Some absolute heat records were broken, such as the 49°C recorded in Algiers on Sunday and in Tunis on Monday. Huge forest fires have broken out in Greece and Algeria.
The heat dome that set in over the Maghreb around mid-July will continue there. It stretched across the entire Mediterranean basin and bordered south-eastern France. The most exposed countries were Algeria, Tunisia, Italy and Greece. The trend is now towards a slow easing of this heat wave from mid-week.
Up to 45°C in Spain and 49°C in the Maghreb, absolute records
The absolute European heat record of 48.8 °C from 2021 in Sicily was not reached, but only just, on Monday the values reached 47 °C in Sardinia and 44 °C in Sicily. The hottest country was Tunisia, with 49°C in Tunis, matching the previous record set in 2021. In Algeria, Algiers also broke its all-time high on Sunday with 49°C.
Last week, Spanish Catalonia recorded 45°C near Figuères, a record for this province. In Italy, weather stations in Rome reached 40°C, while one station in the city center recorded 42.9°C. In FranceCorsica measured 42.8°C in Castirla, a record.
Wildfires are out of control this week
Since this weekend, forest fires have broken out in Greece, particularly on the island of Rhodes Thousands of tourists were urgently evacuated. But this Monday, the worst fires occurred in northern Algeria, particularly in the Bejaia region, where 15 people have already died. In Greece, the criminal trail was mentioned in the national press.
Towards a slow abatement of the heat wave but an increase in the risk of fire
For the next few days, a westerly wind will blow across the western Mediterranean, pushing the hot air eastward. From Tuesday, a slight drop in temperature can be felt in Italy and Tunisia, and from Thursday also in Greece. On the other hand, the very hot air will remain in the interior of the Maghreb countries, but the coastal cities will breathe a little better.
Coming from France, this westerly wind will increase the risk of forest fires in our country, but also on the islands (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily) and in the Maghreb. In fact, despite the fall in temperature, no rain is expected. The weather around the Mediterranean will remain dry throughout the week. As for the high temperatures, they will continue in the interior of North Africa, but are not expected to rise again northward until early August at the earliest.