Which European holiday hotspots could be hottest this summer?
Temperatures have soared in southern Europe in recent weeks with the mercury hitting 44C in Spain and forest fires breaking out in Greece.
It's not just Europe. On Tuesday, preliminary data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change showed that Sunday 21 July was the hottest day ever recorded globally.
With the holiday season in full swing, Yahoo News has spoken to travel expert Andy Medearis about which European cities could be dangerously too hot for comfort.
Athens
As with many countries in Europe, Greece has repeatedly seen high temperatures disrupt daily activities since June, and hundreds of wildfires have broken out following the warmest winter on record - that scientists link to global climate change.
Last week, Greece shut the Acropolis - its most visited ancient site - for several hours in the afternoon as the country baked in yet another heatwave that sent temperatures up to 38C (100.4F).
Medearis said of European cities travellers should be wary of before visiting: "At the top of the list is Athens, Greece, where average daytime highs soar to a sweltering 87.3F (30.7C), while overnight lows remain a toasty 71.4F (21.9C).
"The dry Mediterranean climate ensures relentless sunshine, making proper hydration and seeking shade an absolute necessity for visitors."
August is the hottest month of the year in Athens, with just 3mm of rain on average per month. High temperatures are likely to continue, based on analysis from The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Tirana
Situated 15 miles from the coast, Albania’s capital Tirana can be brutally hot, with 40-plus temperatures boosted by the winds coming from Africa.
Temperatures in Tirana tend to peak in August.
This year, Albanian authorities have sought help from the EU to deal with wildfires triggered by abnormal heatwaves.
Medearis said: "In the Albanian capital of Tirana, visitors can expect a formidable 86.4°F (30.2C) throughout the daylight hours, cooling only slightly to 61.1F (16.2C) after nightfall.
"The inland location ensures minimal coastal breezes to alleviate the August inferno."
Rome
Italy’s capital Rome has very little rainfall in summer and up to 11 hours of sunshine per day and is expected to be extremely hot this summer.
Medearis, founder of aeroplane points site Deals Points, said: "The Eternal City of Rome, Italy is also feeling the effects of the summer heat, with thermometers regularly peaking at 86.8F (30.4C) during the day.
"While evening lows of 61.1F (16.2C) offer a brief reprieve, the city's urban landscape amplifies the sweltering conditions."
Podgorica
Balkan states such as Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have sizzled this summer. The Rusanda salt lake in the north of Serbia, which contains medicinal mud, dried up for the first time ever. The Adriatic Sea has hovered at temperatures around a record-high 29.5°C in several coastal resorts of Croatia.
Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, sits near the coast of the Adriatic and is known for searing summer temperatures.
The country has already seen electricity blackouts thanks to heatwaves this summer, as thousands switched on air conditioning systems to cope with the summer heat.
Medearis said: "Tucked away in the Balkans, Podgorica, Montenegro is another contender for Europe's hottest locale come August.
"Scorching daytime averages of 87.0F (30.6C) are accompanied by balmy evening temperatures around 66.7F (19.3C), providing minimal respite from the oppressive heat."
Seville
Spain has experienced searing heat in recent weeks with the country's health ministry recently issuing alerts for large swathes of the country. Echoing authorities across southern Europe, Spain told people to drink water, protect themselves against the sun and pay particular attention to the young and the elderly.
It also warned of a high risk of wildfires in most of the country.
Located inland, far from cooling sea breezes, the historic city of Seville is considered Europe’s hottest.
Seville has seen temperatures of up to 47C in the past, and August temperatures can easily stray above 35C, with little respite in the evenings, Medearis said.
Last year, temperatures soared above 40C in August and stayed around 35C for much of the month.
Campaigners have warned that the city is becoming so hot and dry it risks becoming a ‘desert’ - with the landlocked city often baked by hot winds from Africa.
