Europe braces for a heat dome as temperatures surge toward 45C

A severe heat wave is expected to hit Europe this weekend as a so-called heat dome traps hot air over much of the continent. The phenomenon, caused by a broad area of high pressure, is bringing unusually hot air from the Sahara and is likely to keep temperatures elevated through the end of June.

Spain and Portugal are preparing for highs of up to 45 degrees Celsius early next week. In France, forecasters say Paris and other cities could reach 30 to 40 degrees, about 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal norms, and the country may break its June temperature record of 37.6 degrees set in 1947.

The heat is also expected to reach Britain, where warnings have been issued across large parts of the country. In southeast England, temperatures are forecast to rise above 30 degrees, with some areas potentially reaching 32 degrees on Sunday and Monday. The Met Office said it is monitoring the event closely.

Forecasters said the heat dome works like a lid on a pot, trapping warm air in the lower atmosphere and causing rapid warming at the surface. The danger is greater in places where the ground is already dry after May’s heat, because there is less natural cooling through evaporation. Officials warned that drought conditions will worsen and the fire risk will rise, while the Met Office called it “one of the most extreme high-temperature events in our observational records.”