Following a devastating heatwave that claimed 1,300 lives across Europe, particularly impacting regions like France, a new climate danger is emerging from the south. Even though the June heatwave has subsided, a phenomenon known as a ‘heat dome’ is now advancing, originating from Spain.
Beginning this weekend (July 4-5), this ‘heat dome’ is predicted to trigger another significant heatwave across Southern Europe. Weather forecasts indicate a strong subtropical ridge and persistent high pressure settling over the Iberian Peninsula. This atmospheric setup will trap warm air like a dome, causing temperatures to soar from Thursday through Sunday.
What makes this situation distinct is that the heat is expected to be largely of local origin, not solely imported from the Sahara. The Iberian Peninsula is effectively acting as a ‘mini-continent’ or an ‘Iberian furnace,’ as meteorologists describe it. Under high pressure, descending air compresses, dries out, and warms up near the surface. Compounding this, a small low-pressure system west of the country could further intensify the influx of extremely hot air.
While current forecasts suggest a maximum of 38°C, actual temperatures could exceed 40°C during the day and remain oppressively high at night. Unlike the recent heatwave, the most intense heat is expected in the valleys of Guadalquivir and Guadiana, Extremadura, western Castilla-La Mancha, and parts of the south and center of the country. Early next week could see temperatures reaching 42-44°C, with tropical nights (above 20°C) and scorching nights (above 25°C) disrupting sleep in these areas.