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Italy is currently experiencing an exceptionally hot and above all long heat wave. Other parts of southern Europe also suffer from very high temperatures. But in the Netherlands we don’t notice much of that at the moment.
“It is really excessively hot in Italy,” Weerplaza meteorologist Jeroen Elferink tells NU.nl. In several places, the temperature is well above 40 degrees. Even higher temperatures could be measured in the coming days. This can happen especially in Sicily and Sardinia.
The current heat wave is expected to last at least another week. For a country like Italy, it’s “really exceptionally long”, says Elferink. The country also experienced a heat wave in June.
“Italy is an elongated country that is largely by the sea. Temperatures of 40 degrees are often reached there, but always gusty. It is rare for this kind of heat to last for so long, which is unprecedented .”
The heat in Italy is caused by an air current coming from the south. “It blows hot air from the Sahara directly into Italy,” says Elferink. Greece, Croatia and Slovenia are experiencing exceptional heat waves for the same reason.
European heat wave avoids the Netherlands (for now)
Spain, France, Germany and Poland are also suffering from high temperatures at the moment. In southern Spain, the mercury will rise to around 45 degrees this week. In southern Germany, the temperature can reach around 40 degrees.
In the Netherlands, we don’t have to fear these kinds of temperatures yet. “Warmer air can reach us, but then we’ll only get a fraction of what’s happening in southern Europe. Right now we don’t see that heat blowing in that direction,” explains Elferink.
“Last year we already had temperatures around 40 degrees in mid-July. But we don’t see that happening now. It will be Dutch summer weather in the near future, with lots of rain in more sun.”
However, the heat of the moment may still have consequences for us in the fall. The Mediterranean Sea is currently warming considerably, which increases the chances of bad weather shortly after summer.
“When the colder air from the north collides with the warm air from the south in August and September, you get severe thunderstorms,” says Elferink. The risk of heavy showers, hail and strong gusty winds is highest in parts of France and Germany. But the dividing line can also move towards the Netherlands.
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