“We should expect or at least plan for these extreme heat waves to continue into August,” said John Nairn, a WMO expert on heat. According to him, climate change is making heat waves not only more frequent, but also more intense. In addition, according to him, heat waves spread more over the seasons.
It was already record warm in June, and the extraordinary heat seems to continue in July. The UN agency said it expects temperatures above 40 degrees in North America, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean as a heat wave intensifies this week.
‘A long story’
Meteorologist Reinier van den Berg of Buienradar thinks it is ‘not a crazy statement at all’, he says when asked. “Particularly in the United States and China, I expect the heat to last for a long time. Especially in the US.”
Van den Berg calls the situation in the American Midwest “very exceptional” and “a very long story.” “It lasts for a very long time. That is because the jet stream at a high altitude in the atmosphere does not flow from east to west, but hangs in loops. Weather systems can get trapped in those loops and start to heat up. That will really hang around for another two weeks.”
In Europe, the heat will ‘reduce a bit of gas’ this weekend, says the meteorologist, before rising sharply again. “It was 40 degrees in Rome, but it will be 34 degrees tomorrow. That is quite usual for July. It will remain warm in Turkey and Athens. But after the weekend the heat will make a comeback. Italy and the Balkans will be hit hard on Monday and Tuesday with temperatures above 40 degrees. Greece will also feel a new heat peak on Wednesday.”
The Netherlands changeable
Van den Berg says next week’s peak is “the third wave in a longer heat wave.” “The heat is always lurking, even with a few cooler days. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more peaks from North Africa and the Sahara in the coming weeks.”
Spain and France are temporarily escaping the scorching heat. Just like the Netherlands: “The weather systems flow smoothly here,” says Van den Berg. “The next ten days will therefore be very changeable here with rain and also beautiful days.”
2023-07-21 13:59:23
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