WITH MOST PRIMARY schools across the country now officially on summer holidays, many families (and teachers!) will be packing their suitcases and getting the final bits organised for that well-deserved summer break. 

But in a week that saw a deadly heat dome hover over Europe, with many countries experiencing record-breaking heat that forced schools and tourist destinations to close, disrupted basic infrastructure and killed dozens of people, the idea of jetting off into the sun is more anxiety-inducing than exciting this year. 

Scientists have said that human-caused climate change is “unequivocally” responsible for the intensity of the record-breaking heatwave scorching Europe.

It would have been “virtually impossible” for such exceptional temperatures to occur in June 50 years ago, the World Weather Attribution group of scientists said.

So, whether you are staying in Ireland or heading abroad over the next week, here’s how the heatwave is impacting some of the European destinations most popular with Irish tourists. 

At home 

The heatwave in Ireland is due to break from today, with the high-temperature warning that was in place across Ireland last week due to end at 9am this morning.

Beyond this, temperatures will drop significantly, with Dublin today forecast to be overcast with temperatures up to 23 degrees and showers moving in from the west later in the day.

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, maximum temperatures are expected to be in the 17 to 20 degrees range during the day and up to 13 degrees at night – some respite from the clammy nights experienced last week. 

France

France has been hit particularly harshly by last week’s heatwave, with a temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius recorded in parts of the South West last week, shattering previous hot weather records. 

Much of the country remains under red weather alerts, with thunderstorms, some of them severe, forecast in the coming days. 

From today, temperatures will begin to drop in the northwest, but the heatwave will continue across much of the eastern part of the country.

In Paris, temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s through to the end of the week, with similar temperatures forecast for the South of France.

The scorching heat led to tourist attractions like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower closing early for much of last week. 

Organisers of the Paris Pride March were forced to postpone the event, due to take place today, after police ordered them to change the date to relieve pressure on emergency services during the heatwave.

Similarly, the Pride March in Lyon was also called off on Friday due to the hot weather. 

Many amateur sporting events and some concerts have also been called off across the country this weekend as emergency services attempt to limit demand for callouts at a time when the health service is “already stretched to its limits”.

Some 55 people have been killed across France since Thursday of last week in weather-related incidents such as drowning and overheating. Among them were four children who died in cars. 

Spain and Portugal

Spain has smashed multiple hot weather records over the last week, with Cantabria reaching 43.7°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in the region in any month of the year. 

The country has reported more than 200 weather-related deaths since the heatwave began. 

In Malaga and Barcelona, temperatures are set to hover around 30°C over the next week, while in Madrid, heat is expected to reach up to 37°C later in the week. 

Writing for The Journal earlier this week, Cormac Breen detailed how Madrid essentially shut down this week as a result of the scorching heat.  

Here’s a snippet if you missed it: “Honestly, it just feels like you’re trapped inside a hot oven with no way to escape.”

Meanwhile, in Portugal, temperatures in Faro are expected to hover around 30°C for the next week. 

For anyone heading to Lisbon, be prepared for much more uncomfortable conditions, with highs of 37°C later this week. 

Italy

Across Italy, the heatwave claimed five lives in less than 24 hours this week, as temperatures climbed to 41°C across much of the country.

After a 57-year-old man died while working in a field near Lodi, outside Milan, on Tuesday, four more deaths were reported on Wednesday, according to the Guardian.

Power outages caused by the heat also disrupted air conditioning system in parts of the country this week, including in tourist hotspots like Florence’s Uffizi Galleries.

According to reports, museum authorities were forced to limit visitor numbers and temporarily suspend ticket sales as cooling systems struggled to cope.

In Rome, temperatures are set to reach 38°C on Sunday before dropping later in the week to between 35°C  and 33°C .

Includes reporting from AFP.