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A severe heatwave that has gripped much of Europe is expected to sweep into Türkiye this weekend, bringing temperatures above 40°C (104°F) in many parts of the country, meteorologists warned Thursday.
Countries including Italy, Greece, France, Spain and Portugal have already been battling extreme heat, triggering forest fire bans and mass evacuations. Greece evacuated villages on Chios island after wildfires destroyed some 65,000 hectares of forest. Italy declared a “serious danger” alert in the southeast, Portugal raised a red fire warning, and France reported two heat-related deaths.
Even northern European nations such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium have experienced record-breaking temperatures, prompting health officials to advise vulnerable groups to stay indoors.
According to Türkiye’s Meteorological Service, temperatures will rise sharply from Thursday onwards, reaching peak highs of up to 43°C (109°F) in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions over the weekend. Western and southern coastal areas are already recording temperatures 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages.
As Europe continues to grapple with unprecedented heat, Türkiye prepares for a similarly intense spell, with officials urging residents to take precautions.
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