FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Europe is entering a new period of extreme heat. The heat wave that has already engulfed the southwest of the continent will gradually expand north and east this week, and then include Central Europe, Italy and the Balkans, writes Severe Weather Europe.
According to the latest forecasts, a powerful area of high atmospheric pressure has settled over Western and Southwestern Europe. This system acts like a "lid", trapping hot air and preventing the penetration of cooler air from the Atlantic. For this reason, Spain, Portugal and France have been facing extreme temperatures for several days.
Temperatures in these countries are 10 to 15 degrees Celsius higher than the average for this time of year, while in some regions they have even exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.
Most of the hot air is currently located over Western Europe, but over the weekend and early next week the heat wave is expected to extend towards Central Europe, Italy, the Alps and the Balkans.
A significant increase in temperatures is expected in the Balkans. In many areas, they could reach the mid- to low-range of 30–39 degrees Celsius, while in some places they could even approach 40 degrees.
According to forecasts, the hottest air mass next week will remain over southern Italy and parts of the Balkans, where maximum daily temperatures could reach 38 to 41 degrees Celsius. According to medium-term forecasts, this wave is not expected to recede quickly and could last until mid-July.
The main cause of this new heat wave is the phenomenon known as a heat dome. It is an area of high atmospheric pressure that remains over a large part of the continent and does not allow the distribution of hot air.
This system works like a lid on a pot: air descends towards the surface of the earth, warms even more, and keeps the heat trapped near the ground.
When such a situation lasts for several days or weeks, temperatures can reach extreme levels. At night there is often not enough cooling, especially in large cities. For this reason, so-called tropical nights are already being recorded in some parts of Europe, when the temperature does not drop enough even at night to cool people and buildings.
High temperatures and a lack of rainfall are increasingly drying out the land. Severe Weather Europe points out that in many parts of the continent the land is already extremely dry, after a very hot end to May and a historic heatwave at the end of June.
Due to high temperatures, low humidity and rapid evaporation, the risk of fires is also increasing. Large fires have already been recorded in Portugal, Spain and the south of France, where temperatures have significantly exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in recent days.
Why do heat waves often end with powerful storms?
If forecasts are correct, conditions will worsen even further over the next two weeks. Many parts of Europe are expected to experience several consecutive days of temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Long heat waves are especially dangerous for the elderly, children, people with chronic illnesses, and those who work outdoors.
Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The risk increases even more when nights remain very hot and the body fails to cool down.
A particular problem is the high temperatures in cities, where asphalt, concrete, and buildings accumulate and retain heat for a long time. For this reason, the feeling of heat in urban areas can be even stronger than the thermometers indicate.
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