40 people dead as record-shattering heatwave bakes Europe, triggers London 'red warning'
The French prime minister said that the 40 people who died were "mainly young people" who were swimming in unsupervised waters to escape the scorching heat.
Rare 'red warning' issued for London as dangerous heat wave spreads across Europe
Temperatures are skyrocketing 20 to 25 degrees above average as a dangerous heat wave grips Europe. London is under a rare 'red warning' alongside widespread heat alerts in France, Italy, and Spain. FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan breaks down the massive heat dome steering the scorching conditions:
EUROPE — Approximately 40 people have died while trying to escape the extreme heat over the course of the past week, according to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
An exceptional, record-shattering summer heat wave is tightening its grip across Europe as a massive heat dome locks blistering temperatures over the continent.
As many major cities sit in the high 90s and triple digits — topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) — schools have been closed across Europe alongside widespread train cancellations, with officials issuing urgent safety warnings as extreme conditions turn deadly.
London has been issued a rare 'red warning' as severe heat alerts expand across France, Italy and Spain.
The extreme conditions have even forced the Eiffel Tower to adjust its operating hours on Tuesday as temperatures spiked.
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The Louvre Museum will also close its doors early until Saturday due to the heat wave and to ensure optimal visiting conditions.
The driving force behind the extreme weather is a stout mid-level ridge of high pressure anchored over western and central Europe.
Mature man standing in front of cathedral in Seville, Spain. Cooling down with his hat. (Getty Images / tomazl)
These systems are the same engines that drive extreme summer warmth in the United States, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
To visualize the pattern, think of the system as a giant lid trapping air underneath an atmospheric dome. The compressed air continuously heats up, causing temperatures to skyrocket 20 to 25 degrees above average.
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This stubborn setup prevents cooler ocean air or rain clouds from breaking through, meaning that the longer the ridge stays parked, the more the ground bakes and the more intense the daily heat becomes.
Western European nations like France and Spain have borne the brunt of the initial surge, as the dangerous heatwave has been building for days.
The intense summer sun blazes over London, casting a fiery glow on Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The sky is drenched in deep orange and red hues, evoking the scorching heat of a heatwave. The shimmering light creates a dramatic and almost surreal atmosphere, emphasizing the extreme weather conditions. (Getty Images / mammuth)
Last week, when the heat wave began, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu noted that 60 administrative departments were placed under an orange alert, adding that the warning level could soon escalate to red.
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Under French emergency protocols, reaching a red alert activates strict ORSEC and ORSAN policies. These mandates require regional officials to cancel or postpone outdoor events, encourage teleworking and protect exposed laborers.
On Monday, many locations across France shattered all-time heat records, and are likely to continue to break these records until the heat abates later this week.
Lecornu emphasized that the government is mobilizing all state services, prefects, regional health agencies and emergency services to protect citizens and support the healthcare system.
As the heat dome intensifies, the historic air mass is taking a deadly human toll.
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The French prime minister confirmed Tuesday that up to 40 people have drowned since June 18.
He noted that the victims were "mainly young people" who were swimming in unsupervised waters to escape the scorching conditions.
Paris, France - August 19, 2012 - People bathing in the fountains of the Trocadero, opposite the Eiffel Tower in Paris, by the heatwave (Getty Images / alexat25)
The hottest temperature ever recorded in France is 114.6 degrees (45.9 Celsius) and occurred in Gallargues-le-Montueux on June 28, 2019, which could be broken this week.
France's meteorological department noted that the intensity of this heat wave rivals the deadly 2003 heatwave that struck western Europe.
The key difference this time is duration, as the current heat wave is expected to break much sooner than the 16-day stretch seen in 2003.
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Additionally, temperatures are soaring across the United Kingdom on Tuesday, with highs reaching into the low to mid-90s (mid-30s Celsius) as all-time records threaten to break.
In fact, London will likely be flirting with 100 degrees (38 Celsius) into Wednesday.
Over the coming days, the entire ridge is forecast to slowly move eastward, carrying the extreme heat deeper into central and northern Europe.
That said, the core of the heat will likely last all this week.
The lack of residential air conditioning makes these intense European heat waves uniquely dangerous due to the small percentage of homes across the continent that have cooling.
Stick with FOX Weather for the latest on this dangerous heat wave.