Severe summer heatwave: Holidaying in Southern Europe?

Parts of Europe are currently experiencing a severe heatwave, the strongest of summer 2023 so far.

While low pressure is bringing unsettled weather to our neck of the woods across the UK and Ireland, and cooler conditions thanks to the jet stream, parts of southern Europe are basking in extreme heat.

The blocking high pressure system sat over southern Europe is producing what we call a "heat dome" whereby the large high remains in place for several days or weeks, acting like a lid trapping warm air inside.

This warm air rises, but gets pushed back down due to the lid of high pressure, warming further as it sinks.

Much of Spain and Portugal are seeing temperatures into the 40s, while southern France, Italy and the Balkans are reaching the upper-20s Celsius.

The heat has been intensifying across north-west Africa, spreading into Iberia, with, the town of Adrar, Algeria recording ae minimum night-time temperature of 39.6°C on 6th July, the highest minimum temperature ever recorded in Africa.