Weather It Is (Stifling Heat)

Good Afternoon:

Extreme Heat Likely! Danger to Life!

High pressure will build out of Africa over the next several days.  The high pressure area is part of a broader ridge of warm air stretching into northwestern Europe.  A stalled low pressure area over Spain embedded in the ridge will help to draw the high pressure area unusually northward, bringing with it desert heat.  Based on global ensemble forecasts. there is a very high probability of extreme heat.

Northeasterly winds will exacerbate the heat as air descends over the mountains into the inland and coastal valleys.

The heat will increase throughout the week, before reaching a peak most likely on Sunday.  Temperatures will reach the upper 30s to near 40 in the mountain areas, and 40 to just above 40 in the inland valleys.  Areas close to the coast will see temperatures in the mid to upper 30s, with higher humidity (and higher heat indexes).

The heat will slowly dissipate as next week pushes along.  However, there is a 50% chance that next week will end with temperatures again near 40 Celcius again.

Our rather tranquil, cool, and occasionally rainy weather has come to an end, and we our now in the period before summer when heat extremes are more likely than at other times of the spring/summer seasons.

Barry Lynn