Temperatures are skyrocketing 20 to 25 degrees above average as a dangerous heat wave grips Europe. London is under a rare ‘red warning’ alongside widespread heat alerts in France, Italy, and Spain. FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan breaks down the massive heat dome steering the scorching conditions:
EUROPE— An exceptional, record-shattering summer heat wave is tightening its grip across Europe as a massive ‘heat dome’ locks blistering temperatures over the continent.
As many major cities sit in the high 90s and triple digits—topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius)—schools have been closed across Europe alongside widespread train cancellations, with officials issuing urgent safety warnings.
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London has been issued a rare ‘red warning’ as severe heat alerts expand across France, Italy and Spain.
The extreme conditions have even forced the Eiffel Tower to adjust its operating hours on Tuesday as temperatures spike.
The Louvre Museum will also close its doors early until Saturday due to the heatwave and to ensure optimal visiting conditions.
The driving force behind the extreme weather is a stout mid-level ridge of high pressure anchored over western and central Europe.
These systems are the same engines that drive extreme summer warmth in the United States, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
To visualize the pattern, think of the system as a giant lid trapping air underneath an atmospheric dome. The compressed air continuously heats up, causing temperatures to skyrocket 20 to 25 degrees above average.
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This stubborn setup prevents cooler ocean air or rain clouds from breaking through, meaning that the longer the ridge stays parked, the more the ground bakes and the more intense the daily heat becomes.
Western European nations like France and Spain have borne the brunt of the initial surge.
On Monday, many locations across France shattered all-time heat records, and are likely to continue to break these records until the heat abates later this week.
Last week, when the heatwave began, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu noted that 60 administrative departments were placed under an orange alert, adding that the warning level could soon escalate to red.
Under French emergency protocols, reaching a red alert activates strict ORSEC and ORSAN policies. These mandates require regional officials to cancel or postpone outdoor events, encourage teleworking and protect exposed laborers.
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Lecornu emphasized that the government is mobilizing all state services, prefects, regional health agencies and emergency services to protect citizens and support the healthcare system.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in France is 114.6 degrees (45.9 Celsius) and occurred in Gallargues-le-Montueux on June 28, 2019, which could be broken this week.
The summer heat is on the way. Is your AC ready?
(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images / Getty Images)
France’s meteorological department noted that the intensity of this heatwave rivals the deadly 2003 heatwave that struck western Europe.
The key difference this time is duration, as the current heatwave is expected to break much sooner than the 16-day stretch seen in 2003.
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Additionally, temperatures are soaring across the United Kingdom on Tuesday, with highs reaching into the low to mid-90s (mid-30s Celsius) as all-time records threaten to break.
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Over the coming days, the entire ridge is forecast to slowly move eastward, carrying the extreme heat deeper into central and northern Europe.
That said, the core of the heat will likely last all this week.
The lack of residential air conditioning makes these intense European heat waves uniquely dangerous due to the small percentage of homes across the continent that have cooling.
Stick with FOX Weather for the latest on this dangerous heat wave.
