Extreme weather hits parts of Europe

  • Published
Children play in a fountainImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Many have been rushing to fountains to try and cool off

Areas in Europe have been experiencing their most extreme temperatures in 10 years.

Highs of 44 Celsius have been recorded in places such as Italy and Albania.

Many countries have issued health warnings advising people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Italy has experienced bad drought due to the unseasonably high weather, leaving many rivers like this very low.

The baking heat in one of the worst affected countries, Italy, has led to forest fires and has left some regions experiencing drought.

Rome, for example had a high of 43C which is 10C higher than the average for this time of the year.

What does Celsius mean?

Celsius is a unit of measurement used to measure temperature in the UK, a bit like a centimetre is a unit used to measure size. Water freezes at 0C and boils at 100C

Many people have been taken to hospital with heat related illnesses from the extreme weather.

Image caption,

Albania has been suffering in the heat and wild fires have swept some areas. The Albanian government has even formally asked for help from the European Union.

Even countries in Northern Europe like Poland have been feeling the heat.

Experts think the high temperatures will last at least until Monday.