The UK is bracing itself for a potential “heat dome” this summer, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius in the coming weeks, according to reports in the Mirror. Late July and August, typically the hottest periods of the year in the UK, are expected to experience several heatwaves. The influence of the global El Niño phenomenon is predicted to contribute to another scorching summer in 2023.
Jim Dale, a senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, noted that global temperatures are continuously breaking records and are likely to continue doing so due to cyclical warming in the Pacific Ocean. He stated that there is a significant chance that this year’s previous high temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius will be surpassed as the summer progresses. The first two weeks of August, which are traditionally the hottest spell of the year, along with the impact of El Niño, may create a heat dome and result in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Jim Dale further mentioned that there are currently significant temperature spikes occurring worldwide, including in Spain, Texas, the Far East, the Middle East, and North Africa. Even countries that typically experience their winter seasons in July and August are witnessing extraordinarily high temperatures, with some regions still recording 30 degrees Celsius overnight.
The Met Office confirmed that Sunday marked the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, with temperatures reaching 32.3 degrees Celsius in Lincolnshire, matching earlier records from this month. These temperatures were comparable to those found in popular Mediterranean holiday destinations over the weekend.
PHOTOCREDIT: Lindaikeji’sblog/Themirror