Cerberus heatwave: European knowledge reveals land temperatures are scorching – and it is about to get a lot worse

The heatwave affecting southern Europe has been constructing for months. And it is about to get a lot worse.

Temperatures have been constantly above 40C since mid-April in lots of areas.

Europe heatwave – latest: Continent could have hottest day ever

But on the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia they’re anticipated to climb to 48C within the coming days, and will even break the continent‘s file of 48.8C set in August 2021.

And these are simply air temperatures. New knowledge reveals the bottom is even hotter.

The European Space Agency’s heat-sensing satellite tv for pc Copernicus detected land floor temperatures have already exceeded 45C throughout giant areas of Italy (proven as darkish pink on ESA’s animation).

Along the jap slopes of Mount Etna, the volcano on Sicily, the sun-baked earth handed 50C on 9 and 10 July.

And that was within the late morning. The temperature would have been even larger within the afternoon – and sure hotter nonetheless because the heatwave has intensified by means of the week.

Read extra: Why is Europe being hit by the Cerberus heatwave and when will it end?

The floor temperature issues.

In rural areas it raises the danger of wildfires as a result of the vegetation dries out sooner.

And in city areas, concrete, brick and street surfaces retain the warmth in a single day so the air would not cool as a lot as within the surrounding countryside.

It’s referred to as the warmth island impact and it raises the danger of weak folks dying.

So why is the warmth so intense?

Heatwaves are pure occasions in fact. In this occasion heat air has pushed north from the Sahara in Africa.

But heatwaves have gotten extra widespread, they’re lasting longer and peak temperatures are getting larger.

Read extra:
Cerberus heatwave: Man ‘collapses and dies’ and people faint
Long-lasting heatwave grips continent
Extreme heat killed more than 60,000 people in Europe last year

That’s the impact of the rising background temperature from climate change, up round 1.2C since pre-industrial occasions, and excessive climate patterns turning into locked in place.

Higher-than-normal water temperatures within the Mediterranean are additionally pumping further warmth into the encircling air, like an infinite radiator.

This yr is on monitor to be a scorcher. Preliminary knowledge from satellites suggests the Earth had its hottest three days on file earlier this month.

Click to subscribe to ClimateCast with Tom Heap wherever you get your podcasts

The impression of the El Nino climate sample within the Pacific, which ends up in further warmth being launched by the ocean into the environment, has but to ripple across the planet.

But it would over the approaching months and it is anticipated to briefly add one other 0.2C to the worldwide background temperature.

This yr is sizzling, however 2024 may very well be hotter nonetheless.