The world is scorching. Here are the tourist hotspots facing the most heat

Destinations in Europe such as parts of Greece, eastern Spain, Sardinia, Sicily and southern Italy are currently experiencing the peak of their heat waves.

This year’s tourism season has been extra hot, with temperatures in the northern hemisphere reaching record-breaking levels that are set to keep intensifying.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), popular tourism destinations in Europe, such as parts of Greece, eastern Spain, Sardinia, Sicily and southern Italy, are currently experiencing the peak of their heat waves, with temperatures reaching above 45 Celcius last week.

“We have to step up efforts to help society adapt to what is, unfortunately, becoming the new normal. The WMO community is providing forecasts and warnings to protect lives and livelihoods as we strive to achieve our goal of Early Warnings for All,” said WMO secretary-general Prof. Petteri Taalas on the organization’s webpage.

The Italian Meteorological Society has named the scorching heat wave in southern Europe “Cerberus,” in reference to the Greek mythological three-headed dog guarding the gates of the Underworld.

Currently, the hottest destination in Europe is Italy. The WMO last reported 46.3 C in Licata, Sicily, and 45.8 C in Riesi, Sicily, on July 18.

Málaga, Spain reached 44.2 C on July 19. According to the WMO, this is tied to the previous, all-time maximum temperature recorded on July 18, 1978.

The hottest part of Spain right now is Figueres, which hit 45.4 C on July 18.

Tiranges and Serralongue, both in France, saw temperatures of around 40 C last week. Mandelieu la Napoule and Cannes were close at 39 C.