And of course, if you’re a kid…a fountain’s a great way to beat the heat (Ken Thomas / Wikimedia)
June weather that’s hitting the mid-30s (mid-to upper 90sF) is worrying authorities in several European countries, where officials are warning people, especially the elderly or ill, to stay cool.
In France, which suffered 15,000 deaths in an August 2003 heatwave, there’s a three-tier system of warnings and alarms. On Thursday, officials went to step 1, reminding people to drink plenty of water and stay inside or in shade where possible. The Health Minister will decide this morning (Friday) whether to upgrade that to an official warning. Temperatures have already reached 36C in some areas and are expected to stay high into the weekend.
Italy has also been having a hot week, although oddly with cooler temperatures in the usually hot south and warmest temperatures of 34C in Tuscany and other northern areas. In Germany, temperatures have run so high that authorities have imposed speed limits on parts of the Autobahn expressway system to avoid damage to softened asphalt paving.
Good tips if you’re traveling in hot areas of Europe this summer: make sure to sip water frequently, but don’t gulp it down in big quantities; plan your outdoor activities for early in the day and near sundown, with cool museums, churches and siestas between.
