Heat dome causing record-breaking heatwave

A “heat dome” developing over western and central Europe could engulf the continent in a long-lasting heatwave, triggering red alerts in France, Spain, Italy and the UK as June temperatures break historical records

HEAT DOME FORMATION

Jet stream

Northward “bulge” traps high pressure anti-cyclone over region for prolonged period

HIGH PRESSURE

Clouds diverted around dome, allowing further solar irradiation

Bordeaux FRA 40˚C

Berlin GER 38˚C

Rising warm air trapped

Pressure causes hot air to subside

Tagus Valley ESP 44˚C

African anti-cyclone

High pressure over Sahara forcing hot air north

Ground surface

Dries out, increasing temperature

Heat dome typically lasts four days but can persist for two weeks or more

HEATWAVE SAFETY

Air temperature ˚C

Relative humididty %

Apparent temperature

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

27

29

31

33

35

37

39

41

43

28

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

27

27

27

28

28

28

29

29

30

30

31

31

32

29

29

30

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

40

31

32

33

34

35

36

38

39

41

43

45

47

49

34

35

36

38

40

41

43

46

48

51

54

57

37

39

41

43

45

48

50

53

57

41

43

46

48

51

55

58

46

49

52

55

59

51

54

58

57

28

28

28

29

29

30

31

31

32

33

34

35

36

30

30

34

32

33

34

35

36

38

39

41

42

44

32

33

34

36

37

39

40

42

44

47

49

51

54

35

37

38

40

42

44

47

49

52

54

39

41

43

46

48

51

54

58

43

46

49

52

55

59

48

51

55

59

54

57

Caution

Extreme caution

Extreme danger

Danger

Sources: Geographical, Severe Weather

© GRAPHIC NEWS