Holidaymakers preparing for trips to Portugal, Spain, and France are being advised to closely monitor the weather forecast as a significant early-summer heatwave is set to sweep across Western Europe. Weather experts have highlighted the potential for temperatures as high as 45°C in some inland areas under extreme scenarios.
The UK’s Met Office has officially announced the arrival of a ‘European heatwave’ affecting a large portion of Western Europe. The rise in temperatures is expected to start from today, with the peak heatwave anticipated between June 22 and June 26.
Meteorologist Aidan McGivern, in a detailed analysis video from the Met Office, emphasized the likelihood of temperatures soaring to around 40 degrees in parts of Spain, France, and Italy, well surpassing the usual mid-June averages.
Coastal regions are expected to experience milder temperatures due to the moderating influence of the sea, while inland areas are projected to face temperatures in the high 30s and even reaching 41°C. The Met Office highlighted the unusual nature of these temperatures for this time of the year.
Weather charts from the Met Office indicate temperatures reaching up to 40°C, although forecasters caution that these models may underestimate the most extreme peaks in certain hotspots. The forecast suggests that temperatures could surpass 40°C in Portugal, with some inland areas potentially hitting 45°C, according to reports from Portugal Resident.
Concerns have been raised about the formation of a powerful ‘heat dome’ over Western Europe, indicating that this upcoming heatwave might be more intense and prolonged compared to the previous hot spell experienced between late May and early June.
Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, has issued high-temperature warnings for various regions, with Seville expecting highs of 38°C and Barcelona, Tarragona, and Madrid likely to see temperatures around 36°C.
AEMET has forecasted a significant temperature increase over the weekend, with expectations that temperatures could reach record highs for this time of the year. Spain might witness some of the hottest conditions of the year, with temperatures potentially exceeding 40°C in certain areas.
In France, Météo-France anticipates very high temperatures and ‘tropical nights’, where temperatures may not fall below 25°C. Temperatures ranging from 34°C to 38°C are predicted across France from Thursday through Sunday, with peaks of 40°C expected in specific regions, including Paris, the Rhône Valley, and Poitou-Charentes.
Météo-France climatologist Matthieu Sorel stated that this heatwave is one of the earliest on record. The situation is being closely monitored as warm air from North Africa is expected to contribute to the rising temperatures in the coming days.