Europe swelters as May temperatures hit the high 30s and 40s and tourists sweat it out

Parts of Europe are enduring an unusual and intense heatwave that shattered temperature records in Britain and France this week, highlighting scientists' warnings of increasingly hot summers. On Wednesday (May 27), tourists in major European cities such as Paris and Rome expressed mixed reactions to the heat, with many continuing to visit landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum despite discomfort. In tourist hotspots, thermometers exposed to direct sunlight recorded temperatures as high as 42 degrees Celsius, though official measures were slightly lower. A UK tourist in Rome described the heat as "a struggle." Italy experienced the brunt of the heatwave on Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding 34 to 35 degrees Celsius in several northern and central cities. The Health Ministry issued an "orange" alert for 16 cities, warning of potential health risks for vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Relief may arrive on Thursday (May 28), with possible thunderstorms expected to lower temperatures, though cities like Turin, Bologna, Florence, and Rome are set to remain on the highest heatwave alert.

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