Heatwave across Europe to hit Romania as well. “Heat islands” to bring thermal stress both day and night

The heatwave, a so called dome of fire, that seized Europe extends to Romania as well. In Portugal, Spain and much of France there are heatwave warnings today. Some areas are under code red, and meteorologists announced that temperatures could reach 46 degrees Celsius.

In Romania, the thermal discomfort will be felt especially in cities, forming the so-called “heat islands”, climatologist Roxana Bojariu told Digi24 on Thursday.

The dome of hot air means that a persistent heat wave on a much larger surface than normal, explained Roxana Bojariu. “The spatial and temporal extension of this episode with high temperatures means the refueling to continue. Hence the persistence of these hot air mountains that keep the atmosphere warm on the large area. This mechanism also intervenes in the formation of the dome including the change in the atmospheric circulation and at a higher height, not only with manifestation at ground level. Hence the persistence and the special impact that such episodes can have“, said Roxana Bojariu.

The climatologist said that such periods of extreme heat exceed a week, but, “with small comebacks, we could expect a two-week period with fluctuations and a return to slightly lower temperatures next week, and then to temperatures rise again “. “In Romania we hope not to reach such high temperatures even if the thermal discomfort will be present especially in cities. The urban environment amplifies the episodes with high temperatures, due to constructions, heavy traffic. In cities the temperature is higher than in rural areas, it is the so-called heat island of the city, which overlaps over the heat wave“, the climatologist explained.

The climatologist added that in Romania we can expect heat waves to be frequent in August. “Right from the beginning of August, according to forecasts, temperatures will be higher than usual during this period,” the climatologist pointed out.

Europe’s brutal heat wave may be continent’s worst since 1757

AccuWeather meteorologists are warning of one of the most significant heat waves in western Europe in over 200 years, or a few decades before the Declaration of Independence was signed. The long-duration, extreme weather event could turn deadly across the continent.

The heat is already on in Portugal and Spain with temperatures topping out near 100 F (38 C) in Madrid, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal, nearly every day since Friday, July 8. Sevilla, Spain, has been one of the hottest spots with the mercury soaring above 105 F (41 C) for seven consecutive days, including a temperature of 112 F (44 C) on Wednesday.

This heat wave is expected to expand across Europe throughout the week and potentially through the end of the month for some areas, AccuWeather says.

“There is concern that this heat could become a long-duration heat wave (20 or more days) for many locations from Portugal to central France and interior southeastern Europe as it could last for the rest of July and continue into August,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said. This includes the valleys of Hungary, eastern Croatia, eastern Bosnia, Serbia, southern Romania and northern Bulgaria.