Heatwave In Snow: Why Is Europe Experiencing A Record-Breaking Winter Heat Wave?

Europe is experiencing an unusually warm winter.

Europe is experiencing an unusually warm winter. might expect snow-covered streets, topped peaks, and subfreezing temperatures at this time in Europe. However, it's not the usual season for Europe this year, the place is quite abnormally warming up.

Unprecedented winter heat waves have been hitting parts of Europe. Although it may seem like the antithesis, it is the situation in 2023.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that weather stations throughout Europe have been registering record-breaking daily readings for the months of December or January.

The WMO observed that New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were both scorching warm in several European nations. The unexpectedly warm weather precedes a sweltering summer and a drought of dimensions not seen in decades.

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What is happening?

January was unusually warm since a sizable winter heat dome struck a large portion of Europe. Several records were broken during the winter heat wave as temperatures rose 18 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 20 Celsius) above average over the continent from France to Russia's western border.

Warnings about the heat dome are being sent by meteorologists. The general public in Europe is urged to take extra care, especially the young, old, and those suffering from long-term illnesses.

What is a heat dome?

When warm air is trapped over a location for a long time, much like the lid of a pot, it develops a high-pressure area called a heat dome. With each passing day, the trapped air becomes warmer with intensified exertion of the sun to heat it. The longer that air remain trapped, the hotter it gets.

The average duration of heat domes is a few days, but they may last for up to weeks, which can result in deadly heat waves.

Scientists believe that air is forced to sink in any area of high pressure, regardless of whether it is a heat dome. Once the air reaches the earth, it is compressed and becomes even hotter. Additionally, as air lowers, it becomes drier, pushing the temperature of the area even higher.

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Relationship between heat domes and the jet stream

The behaviour of the jet stream, a region of swiftly moving air high in the atmosphere, has an impact on how heat domes are formed.

The jet stream is believed to flow constantly from north to south and then back north in a pattern like a wave.

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These waves move slowly and can occasionally become stagnant as they become larger and longer. A high-pressure system gets caught in this situation, which leads to the formation of a heat dome.

Heat domes have probably always existed, but according to researchers, climate change may be lengthening and intensifying them. They claim that as temperatures rise, it is anticipated that the jet stream would become more erratic and have more deviations, leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events.

Why is Europe experiencing such high temperatures?

Researchers are still trying to figure out the cause of the unusually warm temperatures.

¡°It¡¯s been extreme heat across a huge area, which is almost, to be honest, unheard of,¡± Alex Burkill, a senior meteorologist at the Met Office, told the Guardian.

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He explained how a wave of warm air had developed off the coast of West Africa and had travelled through Europe. According to Burkill, the phenomenon has been widespread, with temperatures for January breaking records in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and pretty much the entire German-speaking region.

The other meteorologist observed that while taking into consideration the exceptionally warm sea surface as well, it doesn't appear to explain the startling rising temperatures. But one thing that climate scientists are sure of is that these unusual heatwaves will continue to occur more frequently and with greater ferocity due to global warming.