Greece, Spain, and the U.S. are facing challenges as rising temperatures and wildfires force evacuations, issue heat alerts, and pose risks to tourists and residents. Extreme weather events highlight the immediate impacts on tourism and public safety in these regions.
Rising Temperatures and Wildfires Impact Tourism and Safety in Greece, Spain, and the U.S.
Greece and Spain
Amid rising temperatures, holidaymakers in Greece and Spain have been forced to evacuate due to wildfire threats and heat warnings. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has alerted the public about a potentially dangerous summer characterized by wildfires, following a prolonged drought and unusually high gusts of wind. This week, tourists left the eastern Aegean islands of Kos and Chios as firefighters battled large forest fires. An emergency alert was issued for potential severe weather in northern Greece, covering areas including Thessaloniki and Larissa.
Spain also faces extreme heat, with the Spanish Met Office issuing weather warnings for the south. Temperatures in Andalucía reached up to 38°C, with provinces like Cadiz, Cordoba, Huelva, Jaen, and Seville under yellow alerts.
United States
In the United States, around 134 million people are under heat alerts by the National Weather Service as a record-breaking heat wave affects much of the country. Temperature highs are expected to exceed 90°F (32°C), with some regions facing triple digits. Areas affected include nearly all of the West Coast, the southern Plains, the lower Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley, and parts of Florida.
Particularly, Arizona remains hot with ongoing wildfires near Phoenix. The Pacific Northwest is also bracing for rising temperatures later in the weekend. Experts from the National Weather Service have highlighted the risks associated with prolonged heat, such as the exacerbation of ongoing fires, and urged people to stay hydrated and find air-conditioned spaces.
This widespread heatwave coincides with a holiday weekend, posing additional risks of dehydration and heat-related illnesses. The climate trends suggest that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense.
These conditions underscore the immediate impacts of extreme weather on both tourism and public safety in the affected regions.
