Storm warnings in southern Europe from Italy to Serbia

Storm warnings are in effect for an area of ​​Europe from southern France to the Balkans.

Orange warnings are in place for Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany and Umbria in Italy as summer heat gives way to violent storms. Serbia faces similar alerts, while the French Riviera is under a yellow storm warning.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves, triggering extreme weather events from violent storms to wildfires. As the Mediterranean warms – reaching a record average temperature this month – storms are turbo-charging across the region.

In Greece, Athens and the surrounding region of Attica remain at high fire risk, along with the northeastern Peloponnese, the island of Evia, the Cyclades, including Mykonos and Santorini, and sporadic islands. Firefighters, supported by planes and helicopters, tackle a fire near the village of Kalyvia Soxas in the southern Peloponnese.

Although it was the worst fire season in two decades in terms of outbreaks, there was only one major fire – on the outskirts of the capital two weeks ago – after the deployment of drones and cameras sped up response times.

There were 52 bushfires in the 24 hours to 6.30pm on Monday, but the risk is expected to ease on Tuesday as wind speeds drop.

There is also a yellow warning for heavy rain in southern Scotland on Tuesday, although southern parts of the country will warm up in the coming days. London is forecast to rise to 28C (82F) on Wednesday, according to the Met Office.

Top photo: Lightning strikes over Nice, France on August 14. Photographer: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images.

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