Europe is sweltering under a deadly heatwave, with France and Italy on high alert. At least 40 people have died in France since the weekend, many drowning while seeking relief in unsupervised waters. Italy’s health ministry declared a red alert for 16 cities, including Milan and Rome, as temperatures soared above 40°C.
Meteorologists attribute the extreme conditions to an Omega block-a stagnant high-pressure system that traps hot air, forming a heat dome over western and central Europe.
The high-pressure system acts like a lid, compressing and heating the air while blocking cloud formation. This results in clear skies, intense solar radiation, and still, stifling conditions that can persist for days or weeks.
The heat is disrupting daily life and infrastructure. Schools have closed, train services have been canceled due to overheating systems, and power outages have struck northwestern France. Businesses are adapting work schedules as demand for fans and cooling surges.
Scientists say climate change is making such heat domes more frequent and intense. A recent study found that the current heatwave was significantly exacerbated by human-induced warming, with temperatures 2°C to 4°C higher than they would have been. The World Meteorological Organization notes that Europe is warming at more than twice the global average. Heat domes are not unique to Europe; similar events have recently struck the US, South Asia, and Australia.