Europe Braces for a Prolonged June Heat Wave Fueled by a Sahara-Rooted Heat Dome

A giant heat dome over Western Europe, driven by a strong upper-level ridge from Northwest Africa, is fueling an early and long-lasting heatwave across Iberia, France, and beyond. Dry soils from a record-breaking May amplify warming, with Iberia nudging toward 45 °C and Paris-area highs in the upper 30s to low 40s; the pattern is expected to persist through much of June, raising drought, wildfire, and heat-related health risks for vulnerable populations. Forecasters from ECMWF and GFS project near-record upper-atmosphere heights that will keep the heat plumes expanding north and east, though exact impacts will vary by region as the ridge remains parked over Western Europe.