(Bloomberg) -- Southeast France is forecast to join neighboring Spain and Italy in reaching 40C on Friday, with wildfire risks set to reach the most extreme levels.
Forecasts show areas around Marseille in the wildfire danger zone next week, while Italy and Spain are also on high alert. Greek firefighters tackled 52 blazes in the 24 hours through early Thursday evening, while others have erupted in the northeast today.
Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of heat waves, triggering extreme weather events from storms and floods to droughts and wildfires. Greece and the Balkans have been hardest hit parts of Europe so far this summer, but a blast of Saharan air is now extending over much of the Mediterranean.
Spain is expected to have it’s hottest day of the week, with areas around the city of Cordoba in the south of the country climbing to as high as 43C.
Greece is forecasting similar maximum temperatures over the mainland through the weekend.
Aircraft and helicopters are tackling two blazes in the Rodopis region of northeast Greece. Firefighters are also battling outbreaks in Vilia, northwest of Athens, and in Arcadia. Five Greek regions are on very high wildfire alert for Saturday.
The Italian Ministry of Health warned of emergency heat wave conditions in 17 cities on Friday, including Rome, Florence and Palermo. That’s pushing up demand for air-conditioning, boosting gas and power prices.
London is forecast to reach a high of 31C today, in what could be the hottest day this year so far. Temperatures are expected to cool significantly over the weekend.
--With assistance from Giovanni Salzano and Sotiris Nikas.
(Updates with latest on fires in Greece in sixth paragraph)
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