- Entrou
- Out 5, 2021
- Mensagens
- 23,241
- Gostos Recebidos
- 946
Met Office explains exactly how 40C European 'heat dome' could engulf UK
The Met Office has explained how and why the major heatwave setting fire to southern Europe has yet to hit the UK, with 'jetstreams' and 'differences in atmospheric scale' preventing it for now
The Met Office has explained just how the 40C "heat dome" trapping Europeans in blistering heats could hit the UK and make the temperatures soar.
Their explanation comes a year on from the horror heats of last year, which saw London brace itself for 40C heats while other parts of the country felt the heavy temperatures of 38C..
Now, an expert from the Met Office has said it could happen again, and Brits could be bracing themselves for 40C heats once more.
Dr Doug McNeall and Dr Mark McCarthy explained the likelihood of temperatures reaching the 40C horrors as heatwaves crash through Europe.
The duo also explained how the heatwaves had not yet hit Brits, with warmer temperatures inevitably on their way but managing to skip over most of the UK so far.
But the weather differences could be down to "differences in the large atmospheric scale", with pressure systems in the weather behind how hot it gets.
Last year's massive spike in temperature was due to "high pressure drawing a flow of air from southern Europe", a stark change to what happened this year.
The high pressure creating a severe storm of hot weather is still ongoing in southern Europe, but there is one crucial change meaning it has not yet affected the UK.
Discussing the "jetstream" fix which is preventing the UK from heating up, the experts said: "The jetstream which controls the strom tracks across the Atlantic and northern Europe, is positioned this year in such a way that it is separating that hot air."
What it means for millions of Brits is the heatwave is, as of now, not going to cause carnage as it has in parts of Europe.
But the country could see a "heat dome" brush over it soon, if the hot air separation shifts and brings the southern European heats up.
Greece and Italy are the worst affected so far, with the island of Rhodes seeing tens of thousands evacuated while grim footage of Sicily showed busy motorways were catching fire.
Those fighting off the heatwave impact and the flames which followed are risking life and limb to extinguish the fires.
Two pilots recently lost their lives as their plane dispersing water on the flames plummeted into a hillside in Greece, with the Daily Star reporting the tragic deaths.
The hero pilots have since been named as Commander Christos Moulas and co-pilot Percilis Stefanidis.
Footage of the pair's death was shared online, with a video showing the moment the pair collided with the hillside they had been trying to extinguish.
Daily Star Sunday
![1_Met-Office-explains-exactly-how-40C-heat-dome-could-engulf-UK.jpg](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article30561221.ece/ALTERNATES/s458/1_Met-Office-explains-exactly-how-40C-heat-dome-could-engulf-UK.jpg)
The Met Office has explained how and why the major heatwave setting fire to southern Europe has yet to hit the UK, with 'jetstreams' and 'differences in atmospheric scale' preventing it for now
The Met Office has explained just how the 40C "heat dome" trapping Europeans in blistering heats could hit the UK and make the temperatures soar.
Their explanation comes a year on from the horror heats of last year, which saw London brace itself for 40C heats while other parts of the country felt the heavy temperatures of 38C..
Now, an expert from the Met Office has said it could happen again, and Brits could be bracing themselves for 40C heats once more.
Dr Doug McNeall and Dr Mark McCarthy explained the likelihood of temperatures reaching the 40C horrors as heatwaves crash through Europe.
The duo also explained how the heatwaves had not yet hit Brits, with warmer temperatures inevitably on their way but managing to skip over most of the UK so far.
But the weather differences could be down to "differences in the large atmospheric scale", with pressure systems in the weather behind how hot it gets.
Last year's massive spike in temperature was due to "high pressure drawing a flow of air from southern Europe", a stark change to what happened this year.
The high pressure creating a severe storm of hot weather is still ongoing in southern Europe, but there is one crucial change meaning it has not yet affected the UK.
Discussing the "jetstream" fix which is preventing the UK from heating up, the experts said: "The jetstream which controls the strom tracks across the Atlantic and northern Europe, is positioned this year in such a way that it is separating that hot air."
What it means for millions of Brits is the heatwave is, as of now, not going to cause carnage as it has in parts of Europe.
But the country could see a "heat dome" brush over it soon, if the hot air separation shifts and brings the southern European heats up.
Greece and Italy are the worst affected so far, with the island of Rhodes seeing tens of thousands evacuated while grim footage of Sicily showed busy motorways were catching fire.
Those fighting off the heatwave impact and the flames which followed are risking life and limb to extinguish the fires.
Two pilots recently lost their lives as their plane dispersing water on the flames plummeted into a hillside in Greece, with the Daily Star reporting the tragic deaths.
The hero pilots have since been named as Commander Christos Moulas and co-pilot Percilis Stefanidis.
Footage of the pair's death was shared online, with a video showing the moment the pair collided with the hillside they had been trying to extinguish.
Daily Star Sunday