Record May temperatures were exceeded in Britain, Ireland, and France, while more extreme heat is expected in the coming days. A heat dome of warm air from northern Africa is trapped beneath a high-pressure system over western Europe, creating temperatures not typical until high summer. Europe is about 2.4°C warmer than preindustrial levels, compared with roughly 1.4°C for the planet overall. Most of the additional heat comes from the human-induced greenhouse effect from fossil fuel emissions, while its distribution depends on atmospheric factors. Shifting atmospheric circulation has increased the frequency and intensity of European summer heatwaves. High-pressure systems have become more common, and anticyclonic conditions can persist and block other weather systems, increasing heatwave likelihood.
"A so-called “heat dome” of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the sort of heat not usually seen until high summer."
"Almost all of this heat is driven by the human-induced greenhouse effect from fossil fuel emissions, with the actual distribution of this excess heat determined by (several) factors."
"If you look over the last 20, 30 years, there has been a prevalence, especially in summer, of those sort of anticyclonic conditions that are making heatwaves more likely."
"High-pressure systems, which bring settled weather and higher temperatures, have become more common in Europe, Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo said."
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