- Early September Heat Dome is expanding across Europe, bringing an intense late-season heatwave with surface temperatures forecast to reach the upper 30s and locally exceed 40°C in parts of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.
- Peak daytime highs on Thursday and Friday will be 40 to 44°C across central and southern Spain and Portugal, with an extremely dry air mass.
- Temperatures will remain around the 40°C peaks until mid next week over Iberia.
- From Friday through Monday, the hottest air mass will remain over the Mediterranean, gradually surging north into Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula.
- A strong upper-level ridge is gradually expanding into western and central Europe, with two deep lows over the North Atlantic and Northern Europe.
- Over the weekend, the ridge expands further north and east, and a major Heat Dome will develop and dominate the continent through mid-next week.
- The warmest air mass is trapped underneath the core of the heat dome, spread across western and southwestern Europe until Friday and Saturday, with the most anomalous temperatures over Spain, Portugal, and France.
A powerful early September heat dome is engulfing Europe, with temperatures soaring to 40 to 44 °C across Spain and Portugal. This heatwave, driven by a high-pressure system, is expected to last through mid-next week, raising concerns about heat stress and wildfire risks.1
The heat dome is fueled by a warm plume from North Africa, causing upper-air thermal anomalies to rise significantly above seasonal averages. As a result, peak afternoon temperatures in low-lying areas are projected to reach between 38 °C and 42 °C in southern Spain and Italy, with minimal nighttime cooling, as temperatures remain above 22 °C to 25 °C in urban areas.
The heatwave is not only affecting Spain and Portugal but also extending to France, Italy, and the Balkans, with temperatures expected to be 10 to 14 °C above the long-term averages for early September. The dry air mass is exacerbating the situation, leading to increased energy demand and heightened wildfire risks across the region.
Meteorologists warn that this unusual heat for early September could have serious implications for public health and the environment, as the prolonged heat stress may lead to adverse effects on vulnerable populations and ecosystems.
The general weather pattern indicates that the heat dome will dominate the continent, with the warmest air mass trapped beneath it, particularly affecting western and southwestern Europe until the weekend.7
“Temperatures are running 10 to 14°C above early-September norms, with overnight lows refusing to drop below 22°C in major urban corridors, compounding heat stress and elevating wildfire risk. The heat dome is expected to break after next Wednesday as a cold-air intrusion brings severe weather and rain to western and central Europe.”
AOL.co.uk
Severe Weather Europe
Spanish News Today
