Italy, Spain, and Portugal to be Europe’s Hot Spots This Summer

Posted: May 19, 2021 2:21 pm

Summer is looming in Europe with many people wondering what to expect this year. As the second summer during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable if you are curious about how often you can expect to get outside and enjoy the best of the season.

Start of Summer Almost Here

The official start of summer is June 20, however, some parts of Europe have already seen bursts of heat. A lingering drought may also wreak havoc across parts of the continent, producing potential widespread issues with crops. Here is what the European continent can expect this summer for weather patterns.

Rainy Beginning to Summer in the UK and Ireland

As usual, it will take summer a little longer to show up in the UK and Ireland. Frequent rainfall events will inundate the region through the first few weeks of the summer and likely into July. While it will seem wetter than the rest of the continent, the current precipitation forecasts indicate that total rainfall amounts will still stay below average throughout the summer.

The below-normal precipitation will only aggravate what is shaping up to be the possibility of problems during the important summer growing season. Last April was particularly dry in southern England, with the dry conditions expected to continue through May. Just as France and Germany have seen challenges in the agricultural sector because of the lack of rain, southern England may also face difficulties.

It could be a difficult growing season for parts of the Midlands, Wales, and southern England. While wet conditions will be more consistent in August, the predicted hot and dry July may have already done its damage to the crops.

The good news for Scotland and northern England is that precipitation levels are forecast to be closer to normal. This will help to make up for any crop loss in other areas of the region. Temperatures are also expected to be at or below normal for the majority of the summer for this part of the UK.

As usual, the warmest days in the UK will hit around the beginning of July and stick around through mid-August. A normal daytime high for the region will hover in the mid-80s on the warmest days.

Sizzle to Hit Spain, Portugal, and Italy

The hottest parts of the continent will predictably be throughout Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Southern France will also be a sizzling spot with temperatures predicted to be near or at above normal levels for the season. The warmest month will be July with average high temps soaring into the low 90s.

Precipitation levels are predicted to be below normal in southwest and south-central Europe with the primary storm track setting up to the north of this region for much of the season. Fortunately for Spain, a strong winter storm delivered enough precipitation to its reservoirs to likely be able to withstand a lack of rain. Storm Filomena dumped record-setting snow to the Iberian Peninsula, boosting water stores for months to come.

Heat Will Gradually Expand

The early heat in this region of Europe will eventually move into the central portions of the continent. Dry and warm conditions will begin to take root over the southeastern and central portions of the continent as the summer progresses.

The heat will start to expand from the Iberian Peninsula into northern France, Belgium, Germany, the southern reaches of the UK, southern Poland, and the Balkan countries starting in late July. While this heat will make an appearance in early July at times, it will not be hanging around consistently until the beginning of August.

Crop Problems: Like other regions of Europe, France and Germany will likely see issues with crops because of the weather. A late blast of Arctic air in France in April is being blamed for a loss of at least one-third of the nation’s wine production. In addition, the lack of summer precipitation may wreak havoc on the wheat and corn output. This may end up being the third summer in a row with below-average precipitation in France, Germany, and the southern UK, compounding an already delicate situation.

Cooler and Wetter in Scandinavia and the Baltics

While central portions of Europe struggle with lower than average precipitation levels, it will be a different story in Scandinavia and the Baltics. The heat will be slow to arrive in these northern reaches of the continent due to a storm track that will stretch from the northern UK into Norway and Sweden. This storm track will mitigate the arrival of warmer conditions while also bringing persistent rainy conditions to the area.

The weather pattern will continue to trek north into the far northeastern part of Europe. As it moves this direction by early August, more active weather partners will affect the Baltic states, Poland, and Belarus before moving into western Russia.

Recent Posts