June heat dome follows worrying climate trend
So it has been something of a surprise for two heatwaves to scorch the country in quick succession this June, typically the mildest month of summer. The first heatwave around the time of the summer solstice on June 21 saw temperatures reach 33.2C, and this weekend was again hot and humid for many parts, reaching highs of over 30C. And on Monday temperatures are likely to peak at 33C or more in parts of southeast England, although staying notably cooler in Scotland.
The hot and humid air has drifted up from a brutal heatwave in Europe. On Saturday, El Granado in southwest Spain hit 45.8C, a new Spanish record for June, whilst France reached a high of 41.3C — normally temperatures this high are expected in July or August. And the heat was widespread through the western Mediterranean with Spain, Portugal, France and Italy all under health and wildfire warnings from the searing temperatures.
This heatwave has been cooked up under a heat dome, a large block of high pressure sat in place over much of Europe for some considerable time, trapping heat under scorching hot sunshine. And like some sort of giant pressure cooker in the atmosphere, that heat has built up day by day into unbearably high temperatures.
Heatwaves in June have happened before even in the UK, most memorably in the hot summer of 1976, but the heat then was not widespread across Europe and elsewhere in the world. The current heat also follows an alarming pattern of blistering hot summers over recent years, a change driven by greenhouse gases that continue to grow more excessive every year. But then the warming climate was predicted long ago — it's only the pace of change that has come as a shock and does not bode well for the future.
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Europe heatwave latest: Eiffel Tower summit closed as continent faces record-breaking temperatures
France has closed the Eiffel Tower summit and shuttered almost 2,000 schools as a brutal heatwave breaks temperature records across Europe. Spain and Portugal logged their highest-ever June temperatures as authorities took urgent measures across Mediterranean nations. Spain saw its hottest June since 1914, with Barcelona hitting 37.9C and Madrid forecast to reach 39°C while Portugal's Mora town peaked at 46.6C. Italy banned outdoor work in some parts as red alerts were issued in 17 major cities. In Florence, power outages hit the city centre, and a worker near Bologna died in a suspected heat-related incident. Turkey battled wildfires for a third day, forcing the evacuation of about 50,000 people. The current high-pressure system set in late last week, bringing temperatures up to 10C higher than normal for this time in summer, with the system moving east across Europe from the Iberian peninsula. Marine heatwave pushes up Mediterranean Sea temperature Mediterranean Sea temperatures surged in June in a marine heatwave, with a Greek scientist warning some species are under threat in what has likely been a record period. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service said Copernicus Marine Service data showed sea surface temperatures on 22 June were more than 5Cs above the seasonal average. The most intense warming in what it called a "marine heatwave" was observed in the western Mediterranean basin, including the Balearic Sea, off Spain, and the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the west coast of Italy, it said. "We have seen temperatures we were expecting in the middle of August being recorded in June and ... this is why it is considered a record year for temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea," Christos Spyrou, associate researcher at the Academy of Athens research centre for atmospheric physics, said. He said that the average sea temperatures in June were 3-6 degrees higher than the average between 1982-2023, which was used as a reference period. "We expected these sea temperatures in August," Spyrou said, adding specific temperatures were not yet available. "Some species will not be able to reproduce or survive in these conditions, especially in increasing temperatures.' Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, heating up at twice the global average, according to Copernicus, making extreme heatwaves occur earlier in the year, and persist into later months. Several Italian regions banned outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day on Tuesday, France shut scores of schools and Spain confirmed last month as its hottest June on record as a severe heatwave gripped Europe, triggering widespread health alerts. A 69-year-old Greek resident who gave his name as Christos said he had noticed the warming waters off Athens. 'I have been coming here for 11 years, I believe the sea is a little warmer than other years. Every year it gets warmer, both in winter and in summer," he said Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 05:22 In pictures: Sweltering heatwave scorches Europe Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 04:38 Schools and Eiffel Tower summit shut in France as red alert extended France is on high alert as temperatures soar to 40–41C, with the red alert extended till today. National weather agency Meteo-France placed several departments under the highest red alert. The Eiffel Tower's summit remains closed until Thursday for 'everyone's comfort and safety'. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were told to postpone their visits. The number of schools shut across the country has surged to nearly 1,900, up from just 200 on Monday, in a dramatic response to the intensifying heatwave. A Paris-Milan rail service was disrupted because of a mudslide on the French side of the Alps, with full service not expected to be fully restored until mid-July, French rail operator SNCF said. Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 04:20 Barcelona logs hottest June in over a century Barcelona logged its hottest June since 1914, with an average temperature of 26C. Monday alone saw a searing 37.9C, breaking all previous records for the month. Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean. Shweta Sharma2 July 2025 03:59 What is a heat dome? Weather system explained Large swathes of the UK and Europe are sweltering through a heatwave, with England's southeast set to hit temperatures of 35C and parts of Europe including Paris, Rome and Athens to near 40C. The extended period of above-average temperatures and tropical nights with minimum temperatures staying above 20C could be exacerbated by a heat dome. Here, Rachel Clun looks at how the weather event is sending temperatures soaring across Europe. What is a heat dome? Weather system explained as Europe faces sweltering temperatures Temperatures are expected to drop by the end of the week across much of Europe Bryony Gooch2 July 2025 03:00 Full list of countries affected by heatwave Dozens of heat warnings are in place across France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and well as the Balkans, according to weather aggregator MeteoAlarm. 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event – it has become the new normal,' UN secretary general Antonio Guterres warned. 'The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous – no country is immune.' Here, The Independent has put together a full list of European countries currently in the grip of a heatwave and the current advice being given to locals and tourists. Full list of European countries under heatwave alerts as mercury soars to 46C Dozens of heat warnings are in place across tourist hotspots including France, Spain and Italy Daniel Keane2 July 2025 02:00 Europe is world's fastest warming continent Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, heating up at twice the global average, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, with extreme heatwaves starting earlier in the year and persisting for longer. "What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year," said World Meteorological Organisation spokesperson Clare Nullis, adding that extreme heat episodes were seen now "which normally we would see later on in the summer." Higher temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea tend to reinforce extreme temperatures over land areas, she said. Bryony Gooch2 July 2025 01:00 'Heatwaves are silent killers' - the dangers of extreme heat Extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually around the world, according to insurance company Swiss Re, which notes this exceeds the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, research fellow at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, said: "Heatwaves are silent killers. "Unlike floods or storms, their impact can be invisible: people who die during extreme heat usually have pre-existing health conditions, and heat is rarely recorded as a contributing cause of death." Bryony Gooch2 July 2025 00:00 'Climate refuge' set up in southern Malaga by Red Cross The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned "climate refuge" for residents in southern Malaga, said IFRC spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa. Spanish Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to support the most vulnerable population groups – the very old and the very young, pregnant women, people working outdoors – and the National Society has launched a public-health information drive to provide advice on how to store medication safely and protect pets. The Red Cross set up a 'climate refuge', air-conditioned down to the low twenties, to help residents 'cope with the heat in comfort and with company, avoiding the isolation and loneliness' that extreme heat can impose, as people are forced to stay indoors. Bryony Gooch1 July 2025 23:00 Barcelona marks hottest June in over a century Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started more than a century ago, Spain's national weather service said as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heatwave of the summer. The Fabra Observatory, located on a hill overlooking the city, reported an average temperature of 26C, breaking records since 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6C in 2003. The same weather station said a single-day high of 37.9C for June was recorded on Monday.
Times
4 hours ago
- Times
How to track temperature change over the years
If you wish to know current hourly temperatures across various weather stations in the UK then is the website for you. By clicking on a temperature symbol you can see the latest reading and comparisons with the rest of the day, the month, the year and even historical readings going back decades. As for 'normal', this is the temperature taken at the same time of day and time of year averaged over a 30-year period, from 1991 to 2020. This is a striking way of showing how the country's climate is changing with rising temperatures — important benchmarks because it is easy to lose sight of how much hotter each place is becoming. The website, designed by Dan Harris and Ed Hawkins, was inspired by a similar idea in Australia. Another vivid example of changing climate is Hawkins's use of 'climate stripes', with various shades of red for hot and blue for cold, representing the average temperature for a single year going back over nearly two centuries. The result is a powerful way of showing how the climate has warmed not just in the UK but also across every country in the world, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels. As for this June in the UK, it comes as no surprise that it was hotter than normal, especially in the southeast and East Anglia, where last month's two heatwaves were concentrated. Many parts of the UK also suffered a severe lack of rain, with northeast, east, central and southeast England having particularly low rainfall after early June. The dry conditions followed six months with little rain that left many eastern and southern rivers with low levels of water. Reservoir storage has also declined across most areas after high demand in the hot weather, so it is no wonder that hosepipe bans may be coming shortly in Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and Southern Water areas.
Sky News
7 hours ago
- Sky News
Women's Euros: Extreme heat warnings in place as tournament kicks off
The Women's Euros begin in Switzerland today - with extreme heat warnings in place. Security measures have had to be relaxed by UEFA for the opening matches so fans can bring in water bottles. Temperatures could be about 30C (86F) when the Swiss hosts open their campaign against Norway in Basel this evening. Players have already seen the impact of heatwaves this summer at the men's Club World Cup in the US. It is raising new concerns in the global players' union about whether the stars of the sport are being protected in hot and humid conditions. FIFPRO has asked FIFA to allow cooling breaks every 15 minutes rather than just in the 30th minute of each half. There's also a request for half-time to be extended from 15 to 20 minutes to help lower the core temperature of players. FIFPRO's medical director, Dr Vincent Gouttebarge, said: "There are some very challenging weather conditions that we anticipated a couple of weeks ago already, that was already communicated to FIFA. "And I think the past few weeks were confirmation of all worries that the heat conditions will play a negative role for the performance and the health of the players." Football has seemed focused on players and fans baking in the Middle East - but scorching summers in Europe and the US are becoming increasingly problematic for sport. While climate change is a factor, the issue is not new and at the 1994 World Cup, players were steaming as temperatures rose in the US. There is now more awareness of the need for mitigation measures among players and their international union. FIFPRO feels football officials weren't responsive when it asked for kick-off times to be moved from the fierce afternoon heat in the US for the first 32-team Club World Cup. FIFA has to balance the needs of fans and broadcasters with welfare, with no desire to load all the matches in the same evening time slots. Electric storms have also seen six games stopped, including a two-hour pause during a Chelsea game at the weekend. This is the dress rehearsal for the World Cup next summer, which is mostly in the US. The use of more indoor, air conditioned stadiums should help. There is no prospect of moving the World Cup to winter, as Qatar had to do in 2022. And looking further ahead to this time in 2030, there will be World Cup matches in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The temperatures this week have been hitting 40C (104F) in some host cities. 1:08 FIFA said in a statement to Sky News: "Heat conditions are a serious topic that affect football globally. "At the FCWC some significant and progressive measures are being taken to protect the players from the heat. For instance, cooling breaks were implemented in 31 out of 54 matches so far. "Discussions on how to deal with heat conditions need to take place collectively and FIFA stands ready to facilitate this dialogue, including through the Task Force on Player Welfare, and to receive constructive input from all stakeholders on how to further enhance heat management. "In all of this, the protection of players must be at the centre."
