Heat waves shatter records on two continents
Two extraordinary heat waves sent temperatures soaring into uncharted territory in Europe and the U.S. prior to the summer solstice, setting new benchmarks for the month of June in several European countries, Andrew writes.
Why it matters: Meteorologists call the early season extreme heat “unsettling” and “unprecedented.” These events are a clear warning sign of global warming’s growing influence on the weather.
- Heat waves are deceptively deadly, with heat illnesses striking vulnerable groups including the homeless, the elderly, and those who cannot afford air conditioning.
The big picture: The two continental heat waves are connected via a pattern of atmospheric waves, or contortions, in the jet stream. This is a river of fast-flowing air at high altitudes that flows from west to east in the northern hemisphere.
- In Europe, hot air built up over north Africa beginning weeks ago. This air mass eventually made its way northward into Spain.
- Aided by a wavy jet stream and a persistent area of low pressure centered west of Portugal, the heat then surged into France and on to Central Europe.
- Across the U.S., the jet stream is contorted like a snake, with a heat dome currently centered in the middle of the country. Temperatures across the Midwest are forecast to reach the triple-digits Tuesday.
Zoom in: Human-caused global warming is altering the background conditions in which heat waves occur, and some studies show it is also affecting the jet stream itself.
- A warming planet is causing heat waves to be more intense, more frequent and longer-lasting.
- Studies have attributed particular extreme heat eventsto global climate change, including in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.
By the numbers: Temperatures reached in Europe and the U.S. would be unusual even for midsummer.
- 6°F (39.2°C): High temperature in Cottbus, Germany, on Sunday, which was the hottest day ever recorded in that location dating back to 1888.
- 2°F(39.0°C): High temperature Sunday in Husinec, Czech Republic, which is now the hottest June temperature on record for the country.
- 2°F (42.9°C): High temperature on June 18 at Biarritz, France, for its hottest day on record. This crushed the previous record, from August 2003, by 4°F.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., the heat has been relentless.
- 2,074: Number of warm temperature records set or tied in the Lower 48 states during the seven-day period ending on June 17, compared to just 444 cold records, according to NOAA.
