Charon Heatwave: Is It Safe To Travel Europe During Such Heat?

Southern Europe is currently going through a record-breaking heatwave as countries are hit by the second “heat storm” in a week. Meanwhile, the high temperatures are affecting popular vacation spots like Croatia, Greece, Italy and Spain and are expected to continue for another week. The temperatures are so high that some areas of Greece and southern Italy are expected to be hit by record-breaking temperatures of more than 40°C (104°F) as the heat increases. In fact, forecasters warn that the previous European record temperature of 48.8°C (120°F) in Siracusa, Sicily in 2021, could be broken.

Is it safe to travel to Europe during the Charon heatwave?

Should you travel to one of the countries affected by the Charon heatwave (previously dubbed Cerberus) it will be very hot. Italy has recently had 20 cities under red alert heat advisories. This is expected to rise from tomorrow, July 19, which means that all but four of Italy’s major cities will be under red alert.

To get an idea of how bad this is, when a city is on red alert, the heat is so intense it poses a threat to the whole population, and not just vulnerable people. In Italy, authorities are advising everyone to avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 11 am and 6 pm.

It isn’t just Italy, as Greece and southern Spain are also experiencing very high temperatures.

What to do during a heatwave?

If traveling to the hotter parts of Europe during the heatwave, tourists are recommended to apply sunscreen as UV rays are also increasing. They should avoid going out during the hotter parts of the day and ensure they are fully hydrated.

Tourists are further advised to avoid alcohol, as this can increase the dangers of dehydration, heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Meanwhile, health issues from the heatwave are putting a major strain on local medical facilities. Travelers should ensure they have travel insurance to cover medical treatment if needed.

Can you get refunds when canceling the trip due to the heatwave?

As southern Europe continues to heat up, some travelers have already chosen to cancel their vacation or swap for a country that isn’t as hot. This is especially so for travelers with health conditions or other factors that could make them vulnerable.

Meanwhile, despite the heatwave, flights and package tours are going ahead as normal. Due to this, it means that standard cancelation policies apply and travelers could be charged a fee. According to Euronews, in many cases, this fee could be up to 90-100 percent of the cost should you cancel at the last minute.

Should a traveler have a medical condition that could be worsened by the heat, their travel insurance may cover them on medical grounds. However, this would probably involve a doctor’s certificate when submitting the claim.

About the Charon heatwave

Last week, southern Europe was slammed by an anticyclone named Cerberus. This was an area of high pressure that started in the Sahara desert before moving across northern Africa and over the Mediterranean Sea. Sunday, July 17, saw an anticyclone dubbed Charon move across Europe, intensifying the heat in affected countries.

According to weather forecasters, the period of extremely hot weather will likely last until the end of July. However, in countries such as Portugal and Spain, the temperatures could ease over the next few days.