Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Fires, heat, storms, hail: Europe's wild week of weather

11:00
29 July 2023

Fires, heat, storms, hail
Europe's wild week of weather

Temperature radar with heat warning on left, thunderstorms on right
Heat, thunderstorms, hail, wildfires… Europe experienced it all this week.

It has been a tumultuous week of weather across the continent, to keep up with everything we’re rounding up the most important stories.

Wildfires in Greece

Out of control forest fires in Greece quickly spread this week, affecting hotels and tourist hotspots and seeing local residents forced to evacuate.

An estimated 20,000 tourists were forced to flee the situation in Rhodes while large fires also broke out in Corfu, Evia, and others.

Tragedy struck on Wednesday when a plane being used to douse flames from above accidentally clipped a tree as it banked near Platanistos. Crashing and killing both on board.

Check out our full coverage of the events from earlier this week.

Wildfires spread across Greeceread more

Thunderstorms and hail in Italy

Italy was struck by dual extremes. First, with severe thunderstorms in northern regions. Overnight storms in Lombardy impacted Milan resulting in an estimated £85 million worth of damage while two people were killed in the Monza and Brescia provinces.

Accompanying the storms were hailstones, extremely large hailstones. Including a possible record-breaker for the largest hailstone ever recorded, which fell in Azzano Decimo of the Pordenone province.

Find more coverage on this event below:

Supercells and record hail in Italyread more

Heatwave across Mediterranean

Finally, much of Southern Europe has been sweltering in the heat thanks to a heat dome situated over the region.

Amid blistering temperatures, one stood out among the collection. A reading of 48.2°C in Jerzu, Sardinia. Officially marking the hottest July day ever seen in Europe.

The all-time record high remains 48.8°C, set in Sicily on August 11, 2021.

48.2°C marks hottest July day everread more

These conditions contributed to the outbreaks of wildfires in Greece. A study released by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health linked the 2022 heatwave to over 61,000 excess deaths. We wait to see how this year will compare.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
The solar eclipse arrives tonight. Great visibility for most. . . Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Split image showing an annular solar eclipse on the left and a UK and Ireland weather map on the right with mostly sunny skies, temperatures of 30–31°C in England and 27°C in Dublin.
Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Great visibility for most

The solar eclipse arrives tonight
More comfortable night's sleep. Overnight low drops. . . Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Morning temperature map of the UK and Ireland showing cool conditions, with temperatures ranging from 7°C in South Wales to 13°C in southeast England. Ireland records 9–12°C, while much of England and Wales is between 8°C and 10°C. A blue thermometer icon highlights the cooler weather.
Wednesday, 5 August 2026

Overnight low drops

More comfortable night's sleep
Cooler nights on the horizon. For parts of Europe. . . Thursday, 6 August 2026
Temperature Radar showing the night-time lows in Central Europe. Cooler air is reaching the west and north in particular, whilst the south-east remains significantly warmer.
Thursday, 6 August 2026

For parts of Europe

Cooler nights on the horizon
All weather news
This might also interest you
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday, 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList