A heat dome has settled over parts of Europe, bringing an early heat wave that is pushing temperatures to extreme levels across the continent, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. Millions of people are experiencing the scorching conditions, with the heat expected to persist through the week.
Heat domes are essentially high-pressure systems that remain stationary for several days, acting as a lid that traps heat and humidity, according to research associate Mireia Ginesta of the Climate Litigation Lab at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. “High-pressure system means that the air is sinking, and as the air goes down to lower altitudes, it becomes compressed,” Ginesta told the AP. “So the pressure increases and the temperature also increases.”
The development of a heat dome occurs when the jet stream — a fast-moving river of air at high elevations — bulges northward, creating a blocking pattern that allows the high-pressure system to stall over a region. The stationary system prevents cooler air from moving in, locking in the heat.
Across Europe, residents sought relief from the high temperatures. In Rome, people were seen cooling off at a fountain on Tuesday, according to AP photographer Alessandra Tarantino. The heat wave is also coinciding with the Eurocopa 2024 football tournament, which is drawing large crowds to outdoor venues in several host cities.