Europe faces another strong heatwave, Balkans could see temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius next week

Experts warn that the European continent is entering a new phase of extreme temperatures, as the heatwave gripping southwestern Europe is expected to expand northward and eastward in the coming days.

According to Severe Weather Europe, after Western Europe, very high temperatures will also spread to the central parts of the continent, Italy and the Balkans.

Meteorologists stress that a powerful high-pressure system has formed over Western and Southwestern Europe, functioning like a “lid” by trapping hot air and blocking the arrival of cooler air masses coming from the Atlantic.

As a result, Spain, Portugal and France have been experiencing extremely high temperatures for days. In these countries, temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average, while in some areas they have even exceeded the 40-degree mark.

For now, the hottest air mass is concentrated over Western Europe, but over the weekend and in the first days of next week it is forecast to move toward Central Europe, the Alps, Italy and the Balkans. According to meteorologists, Balkan countries will face a noticeable rise in temperatures.

In a large part of these areas, the thermometer is expected to fluctuate between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius, while in some regions temperatures could also approach 40 degrees.

Forecasts show that next week the hottest air will be concentrated in southern Italy and parts of the Balkans, where daytime maximum temperatures could range from 38 to 41 degrees Celsius. According to medium-term projections, this heatwave could continue until the middle of July.