By di Emi Dinopoulou July 21st, 2022
A high pressure system dominates, during the last weeks, the Mediterranean but also much of Europe, bringing an unusual historical heat wave with countries battling against the heat and temperatures reaching over 40°C . A new record was reported on Tuesday (19/07) in London, surpassing the record of 2003 which was 38.5°C, with temperature reaching 40.2 °C at London Heathrow airport.
As the high pressure system headed towards the east brought temperatures close to 40°C on Tuesday and Wednesday also to the Low Countries and Germany. On Wednesday (20/07) many cities of Germany reached 40°C with Hamburg reaching 40.1°C, but locally the temperature was even higher. The temperature is 10-12°C higher than normal making this extreme heat really unusual.
Another country which was affected strongly by the heatwave is Denmark with temperatures reaching today locally 35.9°C in Adeb, in Lolland, a new record for July, close to the total record of 36.4°C on 10 August 1975. In other words Wednesday was the second hottest day in Danish history.
Sweden also was affected by this severe heat wave, bringing today (21/07) maximum temperatures 32-34°C in Sweden with Stockholm reaching 33°C, when the maximum all time record is 36°C which was measured on 3 July 1811.
At the end of the week, the heat wave will move towards eastern Europe, bringing peaks of 40-43°C during the end of the week in Hungary, Serbia, Croatia and the Balkans. Unfortunately, the high temperatures are also accompanied by many wildfires in Greece and at least 6 are still active.
To read the article in 3B Meteo click here.