Gelato for lunch? Bedlinen in the freezer? Heatwave tips from southern Europe

Europe has been experiencing a series of record-breaking heatwaves this summer, with more than two-thirds of its population facing temperatures exceeding 35C during the June 15th-30th heatwave alone, according to an AFP analysis. Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, and scientists have linked these recurring heatwaves to global warming caused by burning coal, oil, and gas, warning that they are expected to become more frequent, longer, and more intense.

Southern European countries like Spain, Italy, and southern France are accustomed to high temperatures, but even those nations are now breaking temperature records, with Austria recently recording its highest temperature ever at 41C in Vienna. As the average summer temperatures rise across Europe, locals in northern Europe could benefit from the heatwave tips shared by The Local from their southern counterparts.