Sicily registers 48.8 °C (119.8 °F), potentially setting new European record
Image credit: SIAS
Sicilian province of Siracusa, Italy registered a temperature of 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) at 11:14 UTC (13:14 LT) on August 11, 2021, potentially setting a new European record. The station is operated by Servizio Informativo Agrometeorologico Siciliano (SIAS).
"If the figure is confirmed after the appropriate analysis, it could be the highest value ever registered on the European continent," said 3bmeteo.com meteorologist Manuel Mazzoleni, as reported by ANSA.
The current highest temperature record in Europe is 48 °C (118.4 °F), set on July 10, 1977, in Athens and Elefsina, Greece.
Credit: SIAS
Yesterday's temperature would also beat an unofficial record of 48.5 °C (119.3 °F) set in Catenanuova, Sicily in August 1999.
The current official highest temperature record in Italy is 47 °C (116.6 °F) set in Foggia, Apulia region on July 25, 2007.
Much of Mediterannean and northern Africa are currently under severe heatwave which is expected to peak later this week.
Extreme heatwave conditions are now moving into Spain and Portugal.
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