Heads up, travellers: Canada has recently issued a series of travel advisories for a number of European countries, citing a variety of potential dangers due to wildfires and extreme heat.
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Whether you already have a trip planned, or if you’re thinking of going somewhere during summer, these are the advisories you should be aware of before heading out.
Canada Travel Advisories for European Countries
Greece
It’s not just B.C. that’s experiencing wildfire season. Wildfires are currently affecting parts of Greece, which includes mainland areas and popular tourist islands. The Government of Canada notes that “high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds could increase the risk of wildfires throughout the summer.”
Some areas that are particularly affected between July and September are:
- the Peloponnese
- Central Greece
- Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
- areas surrounding Athens
Air quality near active wildfires may also deteriorate due to heavy smoke.
France
France is also undergoing its own wildfire season. The country is experiencing wildfires in parts of Gironde, Landes and Var in the south.
According to the Canadian government, “forest and maquis fires often occur in summer, particularly in the south of the country and in Corsica. In recent years, due to high heat and drought conditions, the forest fire season has lengthened and broadened to cover the entire country. The risk of major fires has also increased.”
Spain
The Canadian government is warning travellers that climate change is affecting Spain, causing extreme and unusual weather events to occur more frequently, which may affect your travel plans. On top of that, wildfires are raging through the country, including in:
- the Community of Madrid
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Castilla y León
- Aragon
- Catalonia
- Asturias
- Andalusia
- the Valencian Community
- Galicia
- Extremadura
“Road closures, transportation disruptions, reduced visibility due to smoke and poor air quality are affecting many areas. Conditions can change rapidly. Stay away from affected areas.”
Other Countries
These countries do not have any current heat or wildfire advisories listed by the Canadian government, but they are undergoing some extreme weather.
- Italy: all major cities are on the highest heat alert
- Hungary, Romania: extreme heat leading to droughts are forcing the countries to go into emergency energy conservation modes
- Serbia: heatwaves are leading to wildfires sparking
- Croatia: under an extreme temperature warning
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