The heat dome, a high-pressure system trapping hot, humid air, impacted over 160 million people across more than 25 states, from Florida to New England and west to the Midwest and Mississippi Valley. It began intensifying around 23 July and persisted through to 31 July with the Southeast experiencing prolonged extreme conditions.
As France and in particular the south west of the country recovers after another heatwave lasting 11 days with temperatures above 40°C, it is interesting to consider the historical data for the frequency of 40°C days in the country.
An unrelenting and historic period of heat in Finland finally started to fade on Sunday 3 August with the highest…
A temperature was 50.5°C, recorded in Silopi, Şırnak province, on 25 July marking the highest temperature in the country’s history. This surpassed the previous national record of 50.0°C set in Hassa, Hatay, in August 2023.
The heatwave in Norway has continued and in the last week temperatures of 30°C have been recorded in locations on the edge of or above the Arctic Circle.
While late July often brings the highest temperatures of the year for much of the U.S, forecasts are indicating temperatures will run 5-15°F above the historical average. In the mid west states high humidity is also experienced with the concept of ‘Corn Sweat’ contributing to the high wet bulb data and high heat index temperatures already experienced.
This week, China has been grappling with severe weather challenges, including extreme heat and further widespread flooding.
High heat index figures have been experienced in both Dubai and Doha in recent days and brought about by intense heat and high humidity in the Persian Gulf region.
Last week, New York City experienced significant extreme weather, primarily characterized by heavy rainfall and flash flooding followed by heat-related conditions.
This century, Europe has seen thousands of excess heat-related deaths with the summer of 2022 standing out with more than 60,000 deaths as a result of extreme heat.
A pivotal study by University College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, published in PLoS Climate, predicts a sharp increase in heat-related deaths in England and Wales due to climate change.
The heat wave that struck France in June and early July 2025 was one of the most intense and prolonged early summer heat events in recent history, driven by a persistent “heat dome” that resulted in high anomalous temperatures across much of the country.
The heat wave engulfing the Iberian peninsula and France produced two record June temperatures as the month came to a close in Spain and Portugal.
From 21-24 June, a powerful heat dome, a high-pressure system trapping hot air drove record-breaking temperatures across the central and eastern United States, with relentless heat building daily and offering little respite.
A new study from the UK Met Office published in Weather Journal has indicated that temperatures exceeding 40°C in the summer months will become increasingly likely within the next decade due to escalating climate trends.
