Hot African air is like a lid on the pan. The continent faces record heat in May. Tropical nights are expected to form in Portugal.
Several countries in Western Europe are preparing for a week of extreme heat, with the unusually high temperatures for May being caused by a “heat dome” installed over the region, as described by .
O The phenomenon is expected to hit the Iberian Peninsula with greater intensity. If temperatures in Spain, in the south, can reach 38°C, Portugal could record values close to 40°C of Sul, with temperatures above 30 degrees in several regions.
Six districts — Bragança, Viseu, Porto, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo and Braga — are under yellow warning this Monday due to the forecast of showers and possible thunderstorms.
IPMA also anticipates the possibility of tropical nights — minimum temperatures equal to or greater than 20°C — in Beira Baixa, interior of Alentejo and Eastern Algarve.
The French meteorological agency described the episode as a “early, notable and long-lasting heat wave”warning of temperatures up to 12°C above the seasonal average.
In several cities in western France, May’s records could be surpassed by several degrees. In Nantes, for example, 35°C is expected this Monday, a value that would surpass the monthly record recorded in 2017 by almost three degrees.
The United Kingdom could also hit historic highs for May, with the British weather agency predicting a “notable heatwave” and temperatures of up to 33°C.
In Belgium, thermometers must rise to 31°C.
What is this “heat dome”?
According to Météo-France, this “heat dome” results from the displacement of hot air from North Africa, which was trapped under a high pressure system over Western Europe. THE effect is similar to that of a lid on a pan: hot air is pushed downwards, intensifying and prolonging the heat in the affected areas.
Health authorities have already issued notices in several countries. In the UK, there are active alerts in parts of England until Wednesday, including an amber warning for London due to the risk of significant impacts on health and social care services, as well as increased mortality among elderly and sick people. In Spain, yellow warnings were issued for northern areas.
Météo-France also highlights that phenomena of this type will become more frequent, earlier and more intense due to climate change.
