Europe’s ‘Lucifer’ heatwave stays away

A RELENTLESS heatwave christened ‘Lucifer’ has sent temperatures in southern Europe soaring to record highs. The extremely hot weather combined with humity has left at least five people dead as it engulfs Spain, Croatia and Italy with temperatures reaching 42C in several countries. In Romania, a farmworker collapsed and died while working in fields.

Italians have christened the heatwave ‘Lucifer’ as humidity is making it feel much hotter. In Campania, the ‘perceived’ temperature hit 55C on Friday. Italy, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia have all issued red weather warnings.

In Ireland, temperatures are lower than average and prolonged periods of rain are expected today and tomorrow.

Today will be cloudy at first with outbreaks of rain. There will be sunny spells in the afternoon.

Forecasters expect tomorrow will be a bright day with scattered showers, and temperatures of up to 19C.