The Impact of a Heat Dome on Europe’s Weather

For the second time this year, parts of western and central Europe face a prolonged extreme heat spell. Record-breaking June temperatures are expected. A strong high-pressure area over continental Europe drives this phenomenon, often called a “heat dome.”

A heat dome is a large, persistent high-pressure area high in the atmosphere. It traps heat over a region for several days or longer. These events occur globally.

The Royal Meteorological Society in Reading, England, likens the high-pressure system to a lid covering a pot. It restricts rising air, meaning warm air near the Earth’s surface doesn’t rise easily or form clouds. Less cloud cover leads to more sunshine, warming the ground day after day.

France’s weather agency, Météo-France, explains that these stubborn high-pressure systems can block or divert passing weather fronts. This leads to conditions with few clouds and limited rainfall.

High temperatures affected many, such as a swimmer in Paris trying to cool off during Europe’s second major heat wave of the year. Meanwhile, in Spain, a woman used an umbrella to shield herself from the sun just before the country’s first official heat wave.