Europe is experiencing an extraordinary early-season heatwave, with temperature records tumbling from the British Isles to Southern Europe as an intense “heat dome” traps hot air above the continent.
Record temperatures sweep across the continent
Meteorologists say temperatures in several countries have been running 10 to 15 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages during the final week of May. The phenomenon has brought exceptional heat to Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Benelux countries, while Italy has issued its highest-level heat alerts in several major cities.
In London, the Kew Gardens weather station recorded 35.1°C, smashing the previous May record set more than a century ago in 1922. Ireland also experienced unprecedented warmth, with temperatures reaching 28.8°C. Across France, the national heat index climbed to historic levels, while parts of southern France near Toulouse approached 39°C. In Spain, temperatures have been edging close to 40°C.
Heat dome fuels dangerous conditions
Experts attribute the scorching weather to a stable subtropical high-pressure system known as a heat dome. The system effectively traps hot air over Europe while suppressing cloud formation and rainfall, allowing heat to build day after day, writes 444.
Satellite imagery captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission on 26 May illustrated the extent of the heatwave across Europe. The satellite monitors land surface temperatures, which can become significantly hotter than air temperatures during summer-like conditions because soil and rock surfaces retain heat.
The situation has become particularly severe in Italy, where the health ministry has issued red alerts for Rome, Bologna, Florence and Turin. Authorities warned that high humidity would make conditions feel even hotter, and outdoor work is expected to be suspended between midday and late afternoon in some areas.
Climate concerns grow
The extreme temperatures have already reportedly contributed to several deaths in Western Europe, despite the fact that summer has not yet officially begun. Budapest also broke its May temperature record, reaching 32.2°C. Another worrying feature of the heatwave has been the arrival of “tropical nights” in many cities, where temperatures remain above 20°C after dark, preventing the human body from properly recovering from daytime heat.
Simon Stiell, the UN’s climate chief, described the heatwave as a “brutal reminder” of the worsening climate crisis. Scientists continue to warn that human-driven climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, with heatwaves now arriving far earlier in the year than in previous decades.
Hungary braces for mini heatwave: temperatures soar above 30°C before sudden cooldown
Heatwave in Europe, while at Lake Balaton we have stormlike winds
Wind gusts exceeding 100 kilometres per hour were recorded at Lake Balaton on Wednesday
The strongest storm of this year’s storm warning season developed on Wednesday at Lake Balaton, with wind gusts of up to 104 kilometres per hour recorded in Siófok, HungaroMet Zrt. wrote on its Facebook page on Thursday. They noted that a cold front passed over the country on Wednesday, and scattered thunderstorms—some exhibiting supercell characteristics—formed.
They added that on Wednesday, the strongest storm of this year’s lake storm warning season so far developed at Lake Balaton. Thunderstorms with supercell characteristics, organising into a system from the northwest, arrived, accompanied in many places by strong, stormy wind gusts exceeding 90 kilometres per hour. As reported, HungaroMet’s anemometers recorded wind gusts of 104 km/h in Siófok, 100 km/h in Balatonszemes, and 96 km/h in Fonyód.
They also reported that the fast-moving storm system put an end to the summer heat, with temperatures suddenly dropping from 30 degrees Celsius in the early afternoon to around 20 degrees. The storm was accompanied by fallen trees along the shore, and over Lake Balaton, the phenomenon of a spray curtain—typical of sudden windstorms—also formed.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
