Europe’s summer heatwaves: Should you cancel your holiday when extreme weather hits?

17.06.2024 - 22:55 / euronews.com / El Niño / Angela Symons

Athens authorities were forced to shut down the Acropolis this week as temperatures exceeded 40C in much of central and southern Greece.

It’s not the only European country experiencing unseasonably high heat so early in the summer, raising fears that last year’s weather extremes will be repeated.

Mediterranean tourist hotspots have been particularly hard hit, with temperatures along Türkiye’s coast soaring as high as 12C above seasonal norms and wildfires breaking out in the Paphos district of Cyprus.

Spain, too, has felt the effects of extreme weather swings, with heavy flooding forcing Palma Airport to ground flights and a yellow warning for rain put in place in Murcia.

It’s part of a wider trend, with global temperature records being broken consistently over the past 12 months and ‘weather whiplash’ bringing unprecedented droughts and flooding.

While experts warn that the primary driver is human-caused climate change, the El Niño weather phenomenon has contributed to higher temperatures over the past year. This is now entering a transitional phase that some hope could bring a little relief towards the end of summer - though the knock-on consequences on weather are hard to predict.

So what should you do if you have a holiday planned in southern Europe this summer?

Euronews Travel spoke to climate and insurance experts to find out what to expect and what you can do if your trip is impacted by extreme weather.

Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events, such as emergency medical expenses, lost or stolen belongings and last-minute cancellations.

In some cases, you can be reimbursed if your trip is cancelled due to extreme weather - but certain conditions usually apply.

“In the case of cancelling a trip due to an extreme heatwave when no government advisory is in place, travel insurance may not provide coverage for trip cancellations,” explains Jonathan Frankham, general manager of travel insurance provider World Nomads Europe.

If your doctor has advised against travel due to concerns about the weather’s impact on your health, you may be entitled to compensation. Such claims will be “assessed on a case-by case basis”, explains Frankham.

Check your policy for a list of covered reasons for trip cancellation, as these vary by provider. Some may provide add-ons for weather-related circumstances.

If your trip is cancelled by your airline or travel provider due to weather related events, you will likely be offered compensation and a replacement trip or refund.

In rare cases like the Rhodes wildfires that affected 25,000 tourists in Greece last summer, compensation has been offered by local governments.

Whether or not your insurance covers heatwave-related cancellations, it can still be invaluable when