A weather phenomenon from Africa is causing prolonged extreme heat in southern European countries, which will reach its peak this weekend.
It is likely that the temperatures exceed 40ºC in southern Italy, as this weekend is expected to be the hottest so far this year. Peaks of up to 43ºC are expectedand the most affected regions will be: the south of the transalpine peninsula and the two main islands, Sardinia and Sicily.
Between August 10 and 11, temperatures of between 39ºC and 40ºC are also expected in central and northern Italy. Cities in the northern part of the country, such as Bolzano, Ferrara and Bologna They will not escape the intense heat eitherr.
According to forecasts, the heat wave will also be accompanied by a high degree of humiditywhich will increase the chances of physical discomfort and the risk for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. A bulletin from the Ministry of Health has issued orange notices for Campobasso, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia and Rome, this August 7.
As of Thursday, August 8, Perugia and Rome are under red notice due to heat and Brescia, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Latina and Rieti will remain under orange notice.
Furthermore, meteorologists have warned that severe storms are possible, especially in northern Italy. The Alps and Apennines regions will be the most affected.
Why is it so hot in Italy?
Since July 15, Italy has been under the effects of an anticyclone, also known as a ‘heat dome’, which moved over the Mediterranean from the Sahara desert in Africa. It is a meteorological phenomenon that slowly circulates air around a central low pressure zone.
According to a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization and the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe It is the continent that warms the fastest on Earth, with temperatures rising about twice the global average.
The anticyclone over Italy is becoming stronger, causing a gradual increase in temperatures. This week the thermometers already reach between 38º and 39º degrees in the center and south of the country. It is expected to reach its peak on the weekend and raise temperatures to a maximum of 43 degrees.
Meteorologists point out that it is the beginning of a new heat wave which will last at least until next week. At the moment, they predict that Italy will not see relief from extreme heat until at least mid-August.
Prolonged high temperatures have also raised the freezing level in mountainous areas up to 5,000 meters, which can accelerate the melting of alpine glaciers.
Temperatures in Spain will exceed 40ºC
Spain also faces one week from extreme weather conditionswith temperatures that will exceed 40ºC in many areas of the country, especially in the south and in the interior.
“Very high temperatures during the next few days in large areas of Spain. If we compare the thermal character predicted for the air mass settled over the country, with the records from 1991 to 2020, it will be one of the warmesteven with record values,” wrote the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet in a publication on the X social network.
The highest temperatures are expected in the southern interior valley regions of the country, as well as in some areas of Castilla-La Mancha.
On Tuesday, the State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, launched orange alert for heat the cities of Toledo and Córdoba. Other areas of Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, as well as areas of Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia and Valencia also received yellow weather warnings.
High temperatures represent one of the extreme weather events scheduled for this week in Spain. Experts point out that in the northeast and in the northern mountainous areas there is a possibility of storms, hail and winds up to 90 kilometers per hour.
There will be “locally strong storms in the Pyrenees and eastern Iberian mountain ranges”, according to Aemet. The organization adds that “Intervals of strong wind are not ruled out on the Atlantic coasts of Galicia”.
