Parts of southern Europe will be baking with around 40-45 °C as the most intense heatwave of summer

It looks like the final days of July and early August will bring the most intense heatwave of summer 2021 in Europe so far. Temperatures are expected to push well above 40 °C in some areas, potentially up to around 45 °C is possible over Greece over the weekend. This will significantly increase wildfire threat across the Mediterranean region and the Balkan peninsula.

The month of July has brought some severe heat mostly into the southern and southeastern parts of the European continent, while any significant heatwaves have been lacking to the west. The hottest temperatures were observed over the Mediterranean, the Balkan peninsula, and Turkey, exceeding 40 °C at times. However, a heatwave was lately also spread across the normally cooler UK and Ireland, low 30s were reported last week.

But this week, a textbook pattern is establishing over Europe, which is prone to extremely high temperatures. The remainder of July and also the early days of August, the final summer season, will bring the most intense heatwave of 2021.

The reason behind the upcoming strongest heatwave this summer is the new upper-level blocking of High strengthening from the   Mediterranean region into the Balkan peninsula. The heat will be   extreme and should persist for at least a week, possibly   more   across   the south.

Peak temperatures are expected to push well above 40 °C, potentially even close to around 45 °C in parts of the southern Balkan peninsula, as well as Italy and other parts of the south-central   Mediterran ean.

Here is the animation of the temperatures in the lowest parts of the atmosphere over the next 10 days. A significantly warmer air mass than normal will quickly increase from the Mediterranean into the Balkan peninsula, with nearly 10 °C above average temperatures expected.