Temperatures could hit 40 degrees this weekend...

By Ryan Harrison T HE Balearic government has put an action plan together with local councils to warn the public of the risks of the sun as a new heatwave hits the island. The local government will be passing on information to councils who will advise people of the dangers of the sun. A government spokesman said yesterday: “The best way to approach this issue is to keep people informed.” At present Majorca is at alert level 2, which means sunbathers can expect minimum temperatures of 23 to 26 degrees and a maximum of 31 to 38. The Met Office has warned of extreme weather conditions and some predictions by the Civil Defence emergency service say that temperatures could hit 40 degrees this weekend. The local government has said that there are three risk groups that they are targeting. Majorca's 27'000 over 65s who live alone, 70'000 over 75s who do not live alone and the island's 37'000 children under four. Also, tourists coming to the island are particularly at risk. Anyone displaying signs of excess sweating or vomiting should contact their local emergency services as there is the possibility that they may have heat stroke. This is set to be one of the hottest summers on record and concerns are for the elderly and the young. A local government spokesman said: “We are advising people to drink plenty of water and take the sun in moderation. People should also check the UV levels and use the necessary sun cream protection.” Hospitals have also been put on alert to deal with the increased number of people with heatstroke this time of year. GESA, the Gas and Electricity board, has said despite the surge in demand this summer they can cope and there are no blackouts expected. Recent research has stated that as a result of global warming and climate change the winters will be colder and the summers far warmer. Last winter was one of the coldest on record in the Balearics with temperatures falling below the freezing point on numerous occasions. Large amounts of snow also fell on mountain ranges during January and February. This state of affairs is a nightmare scenario for the Gas and Electricity Board (GESA) who are having to deal with a surge in demand for power during the winter thanks to central heating and the same story again in the summer with air conditioning.