Worst Heat Wave in Over 200 Years Settling in Throughout Europe

Posted: July 17, 2022 8:12 am

Record High Temperatures Expected to Fall This Week

What weather experts are calling the worst heat wave in over 200 years for Europe has prompted the United Kingdom Meteorological Office (U.K. Met Office) to use its first ever red extreme warning. The warning extends through parts of northern, eastern, central, and southeastern England as forecasters warn that extreme heat will make its way across the U.K. on Monday and Tuesday.

All-Time Heat Records May Fall in the U.K.

The red extreme warning comes after an amber extreme heat warning was issued for the bulk of England and some areas of Wales for July 17 through 19. Forecasters are predicting that the country’s all-time record high of 102 degrees may fall by the time the week is over. This record was set in the Cambridge Botanica Garden in July of 2019.

It will be a scorcher in London with a forecast high of 100 degrees on both Monday and Tuesday. Likewise, the cities of Birmingham, Manchester, and York could potentially see records fall as the heat sets into the region.

While these readings may not seem like anything to worry about for residents of the south-central U.S. that have been under an immense heat dome for the last few weeks, it is important to note that the average temperature for London in the middle of July is only about 70 degrees. Only a small number of residences have air conditioning, making it difficult for people to find ways to cool off when the mercury approaches these levels.

Overnight Lows Will Remain Elevated

In addition, the overnight lows are not expected to dip far enough to cool things off when the sun goes down. This will be particularly true in urban areas such as London. The body has a more difficult time recovering from the stress of the heat of the day without this cooling at night. This translates to a greater risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses.

The U.K. Met Office is cautioning residents that the heat wave may trigger widespread power outages as well as the loss of services such as cellular data access. The heat could also lead to travel delays.

In response to the incoming heat, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has deployed the Severe Weather Emergency Response Protocol (SWEP) to provide housing and assistance to the homeless population. This response is typically reserved for cold conditions.

Iberian Peninsula Epicenter of Heat Wave

As bad as the heat is in the U.K., it is still not as intense as what is happening on the Iberian Peninsula. The mercury in Portugal and Spain is forecast to hit up to 120 degrees in the coming days. Sevilla, Spain, has seen temperatures readings at or above 105 degrees for nine straight days.

A temperature of 116.6 was reported in Pinhão, Portugal, on July 14. If this reading is confirmed by officials, it will become the highest temperature for the month of July ever recorded in Portugal. The current July record is 115.7 degrees from 1995.

The extreme weather is impacting millions of residents of the Iberian Peninsula. A Spanish newspaper reported over 360 deaths this past week as a result of the heat.

The heat is coming up from the Sahara Desert in Africa, pushing farther to the north and east every day. The mass of warm air will reach Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands by the end of the weekend. This searing heat is forecast to move north into the U.K. and as far east as Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria by the early part of next week.

France will also not be spared the heat with temperatures in Paris set to climb well over 100 degrees by early in the week. This could spell trouble for spectators and participants of the famed Tour de France bike race. The race course is scheduled to weave through southern France in the coming days. Officials are warning those headed out to watch the race to pack along plenty of water and sunscreen.

Wildfires Also a Concern

The searing temperatures are making it more difficult for firefighters to get control over the fires blazing through parts of France, Spain, and Portugal. A pilot commandeering a firefighting aircraft died on Friday when his plane crashed in the northeastern corner of Portugal. Over 12,000 people have already been evacuated from the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch located in the Gironde region of France because of a rapidly growing forest fire.

This weather pattern is forecast to continue through the week. While the northern tier of the continent may see some relief by the end of the week, the southern part of Europe will be under this heat for the foreseeable future.

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