Feeling hot, hot, hot: Heat records are under threat across the Continent. So how can you stay cool on hols – and what are your rights if you want to cancel?

Temperatures are soaring in Europe, but what does that mean for any package holidays and flights you might have planned?

These tips should help you make the most of your hard-earned break, and we also examine the other travel implications of the heatwave…

Q. Why is it so exceptionally hot in some European countries this summer?

Here’s our tips on how to make the most of your hard-earned break during the European heatwave

A. An area of high pressure has arrived and shows little sign of shifting. The weather pattern is known as an anticyclone, and has been named ‘Charon’ after the mythological Greek boatman who ferries souls to the underworld.

Meteorologists believe that Europe’s highest temperature of 48.8c, registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded.

Q. If I cancel my holiday to avoid the high temperatures, can I get a refund?

A. Almost certainly not. Cancelling on the grounds of the weather would be regarded as ‘disinclination to travel’ and tour operators and airlines would not be legally required to pay out, despite the Foreign Office issuing extreme weather warnings for Britons travelling to Italy, Spain and Greece.

Q. Are there exceptions to this if you are elderly or have a medical condition?

A. Perhaps, if you have a doctor’s note advising you not to go due to a medical condition. Travel insurance may give cover, depending on the small print.

Q. Can I transfer a holiday I have booked to someone else?.

A. Yes, this is usually possible, but there will be a fee. For Tui this is £25 per person and the change must be made more than a week before travel. For Jet2 Holidays the charge is £50 per person, but you must give more than a fortnight’s notice, after which the charge rises to £150.

Q. Which are the hottest European countries this summer?

A. Temperatures have been especially high in Italy, Spain and Greece (see graphic) and they could rise even more in August. The heatwave is also affecting Eastern Europe.

Q. Will flights and airports be disrupted by the intense heat?

A. Schedules should not be affected as planes are built to operate at high temperatures. However, dry air could cause more turbulence, so wearing seatbelts at all times is recommended.

Q. What are the risks to trains and tracks in the high temperatures?

A. When it’s very hot, there is a danger of steel rails buckling and services may therefore be reduced — as they were last July.

Q. Are certain groups of people more at risk than others?

A. The NHS says older people (‘especially those over 75 and female’) are most vulnerable, as are those with long-term illnesses such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, kidney disease, heart and lung disease, and some mental health conditions. See ‘Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather’ at nhs.uk.

Q. Are these high temperatures expected to continue?

Meteorologists believe that Europe’s highest temperature of 48.8c, registered in Sicily (pictured) two years ago, could be exceeded this summer

A. Yes. Forecasts show a fourth heatwave due next week. Parts of Italy may see highs of 40c, southern Spain and Turkey will see 44c with high 30s in Greece.’

Q. Will the heatwave be coming towards the UK in the next few weeks?

A. Meteorologists don’t think so, as the high pressure on the Continent has meant low pressure here, with lower temperatures and more rain.

The position of the jet stream means that Britain is drawing in cooler Arctic air.

And if you fancy a cooler summer holiday… 

By Ross Clark 

Want to avoid the European heatwave? Make a beeline for Iceland, where the top temperature is 15c (59f) this week.

Iceland has a population of 387,000 (a bit less than Bournemouth) and two-thirds of residents live in the capital Reykjavik, yet the country still manages to have a second city.

Want to avoid the European heatwave? Make a beeline for Iceland, where the top temperature is 15c (59f) this week. Pictured is the town of Akureyri on Iceland’s north coast

Akureyri, on the north coast, has a soul much larger than its 20,000 inhabitants would suggest. You can fly from Reykjavik, or drive there in about five to six hours. It makes a great trip. Black volcanic ash and glacial gravels give way to verdant landscapes of small farms, before you arrive at Akureyri, which in the 1830s had just two trees.

Now, the city’s botanical gardens has a rich range of vegetation. Akureyri is paradise for bird- and whale-watching. Hikers are well catered for, too, with mountains to explore. Many who visit Iceland don’t make it beyond the geysers and waterfalls. That’s a shame.