Met Office explains how soaring 40C 'heat dome' in parts of Europe could hit UK
The Met Office forecasters a 40C "heat dome" blanketing mainland European in sweltering temperatures could hit the UK in weeks to come.
The Cerberus heatwave originated over the Saharan desert but pushed north, scorching its way through Italy, Croatia and Greece - some of which suffered hillside razing wildfires. For the past four days the usually idyllic and beautiful island of Rhodes has turned into one of smoke clouds and chaos as wildfires coarse across the land.
Now weather experts have given their predictions for a return of a heatwave to the UK. Dr Doug McNeall and Dr Mark McCarthy explained the likelihood of temperatures reaching the 40C horrors as heatwaves crash through Europe.
The duo also explained how the heatwaves had not yet hit Brits, with warmer temperatures inevitably on their way but managing to skip over most of the UK so far. But the weather differences could be down to "differences in the large atmospheric scale", with pressure systems in the weather behind how hot it gets.
Mainland Europe remains gripped in a dangerous heatwave (WX Charts WS)Last year's massive spike in temperature, particularly in the south east of England, was due to "high pressure drawing a flow of air from southern Europe", a stark change to what happened this year. The high pressure creating a severe storm of hot weather is still ongoing in southern Europe, but there is one crucial change meaning it has not yet affected the UK.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
Despite the best efforts of fire-fighting pilots, the flames continue to burn in parts of Rhodes as strong winds push them towards new fuel. While the possibility of more dangerous and destructive outbreaks remains, airlines are split about whether to continue ferrying passengers out to an island that relies so heavily on tourists.
Discussing the "jetstream" fix which is preventing the UK from heating up, the experts said: "The jetstream which controls the strom tracks across the Atlantic and northern Europe, is positioned this year in such a way that it is separating that hot air", reports the Daily Star.
What it means for millions of Brits is the heatwave is, as of now, not going to cause carnage as it has in parts of Europe. But the country could see a "heat dome" brush over it soon, if the hot air separation shifts and brings the southern European heats up.
A man pulls a tree branch as a fire burns into the village of Gennadi on the Greek Aegean island of Rhodes (AFP via Getty Images)Greece and Italy are the worst affected so far, with the island of Rhodes seeing tens of thousands evacuated while grim footage of Sicily showed busy motorways were catching fire. Those fighting off the heatwave impact and the flames which followed are risking life and limb to extinguish the fires.
Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways have all decided to keep their flights to the Greek island going this week, while Jet2 and TUI have extended outwards groundings.
BA has just four flights to Rhodes a week which are continuing, but customers with plane bookings and package holidays booked for the coming days are able to change to a later date for free, a spokesperson told The Mirror.
Jet2 cancelled all flights and holidays due to depart to Rhodes up to and including Sunday 30 July, "to give customers assurance and to avoid putting further pressure on the island’s infrastructure".
All customers who are affected have been contacted about refunds and rebooking options, the company has said.
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