Europe’s southern and eastern parts are preparing for record temperature as a blistering heatwave takes hold of the continent. A ‘heat dome’ that is spreading across the continent has caused the warmest temperatures in Europe this year. A warm air mass can accumulate underneath a high-pressure system due to this weather pattern, which leads to steady, dry conditions.
The situation across the continent is getting worse day-by-day. Parts of Greece, eastern Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, and southern Italy were seeing temperatures above 45°C at the beginning of this week. Spain, France, Germany, and Poland, among other countries, are bracing themselves for upcoming extreme heat waves.
According to reports, in the upcoming days, temperatures in some areas of Italy may reach 48°C, fueling worries that the number of heat-related fatalities may rise. Greece has also had temperatures over 40°C, forcing the closure of the Acropolis in Athens, a popular tourist attraction.
The weekend saw the evacuation of thousands of people from Spain’s La Palma after a wildfire engulfed the northwest of the island as temperatures climbed. In the Swiss canton of Valais, wildfires have even destroyed mountain villages.
Europe is also experiencing a severe drought; the European Drought Observatory (EDO) reports that 42 per cent of EU land is under an amber warning. This indicates that a lack of rainfall has caused the ground to dry out.
What is the reason for extreme weather?
This year, Europe has experienced extremely high temperatures as a result of the El Nino weather pattern and the warming effects of greenhouse gas emissions. However, an anticyclone known as “Cerberus” has worsened the situation. Anticyclones, also known as high-pressure systems, are common weather patterns characterised by the sinking of air from the upper atmosphere, which produces dry, stable conditions with little cloud cover and light winds.
Due to the warming of the descending air, high-pressure systems bring in light winds and pleasant, dry weather. As they continue for several days or weeks, these systems frequently advance slowly. It enhances the heat by heating the already warm air when an anticyclone forms over hot land regions like the Sahara. This area of high pressure travelled through northern Africa and into the Mediterranean from the Sahara.
Apart from this, an anticyclone with the name ‘Charon’ started to sweep through Europe on July 16, worsening the continent’s weather problems. Wildfires are another reason why the temperature has worsened.
Warnings issued
As per the European Space Agency (ESA), the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily may experience “the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe” in the upcoming days.
Rome, Bologna, and Florence are three of the ten Italian cities that are currently on high heat alert. People have been warned to stay out of the sun between the hours of 11.00 am and 6.00 pm in these areas.
In Greece, a heatwave is expected to start soon, with some regions experiencing temperatures as high as 44°C. There are reports that ambulances are on standby in case any tourists pass out from the heat. Officials have banned access to nature reserves and forests to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Air-conditioned areas in public buildings have been opened for people to shelter from the heat. There are also reports that in Rome’s Zoo, frozen food is being provided to the animals to help with their cooling.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has issued a warning that this “summer of extremes” will not end anytime soon. According to the UN Meteorological Organisation, the world could see hot temperatures well into August.