LUCIFER RISING
Is Europe's 48C heatwave heading to Scotland?Met Office predict path of 'Lucifer'
Could the sizzling European heatwave, nicknamed 'Lucifer', make its way to the UK?
By Sophie LawAdvance Content Writer
16 AUG 2021
European holiday destinations are suffering in an extreme heatwave as air from the Sahara creates a "heat dome" over the Mediterranean.
The catastrophic heatwave raging in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal is causing devastating wildfires and potentially the hottest temperatures ever seen on the continent.
It comes as a town on the Italian island of Sicily may have recorded the highest temperature ever reached in Europe as the mercury soared to 48.8C last week.
If the readings are approved, it will beat the record of 48C recorded in Athens, Greece, in 1977, as set out by the World Meteorological Organisation.
But could this heatwave, nicknamed 'Lucifer', make its way to the UK?
European holiday destinations are suffering in an extreme heatwave as air from the Sahara creates a "heat dome" over the Mediterranean.
The catastrophic heatwave raging in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal is causing devastating wildfires and potentially the hottest temperatures ever seen on the continent.
It comes as a town on the Italian island of Sicily may have recorded the highest temperature ever reached in Europe as the mercury soared to 48.8C last week.
If the readings are approved, it will beat the record of 48C recorded in Athens, Greece, in 1977, as set out by the World Meteorological Organisation.
But could this heatwave, nicknamed 'Lucifer', make its way to the UK?
The heatwave is baking Europe
The extreme heatwave which may have registered Europe’s hottest ever temperature is being caused by an anticyclone nicknamed ‘Lucifer’.
An anticyclone is an area of high atmospheric pressure where the air is sinking.
Clouds tend not to form during an anticyclone because the air is descending, bringing hotter temperatures to the earth’s surface.
However, the anticyclone is not expected to come to the UK in the next few weeks.
BBC weather forecaster Ben Rich told Countryfile viewers last night there is "no chance" of that heat coming to the UK due to 'two main players' battling it out in the atmosphere.
The extreme heatwave which may have registered Europe’s hottest ever temperature is being caused by an anticyclone nicknamed ‘Lucifer’.
An anticyclone is an area of high atmospheric pressure where the air is sinking.
Clouds tend not to form during an anticyclone because the air is descending, bringing hotter temperatures to the earth’s surface.
However, the anticyclone is not expected to come to the UK in the next few weeks.
BBC weather forecaster Ben Rich told Countryfile viewers last night there is "no chance" of that heat coming to the UK due to 'two main players' battling it out in the atmosphere.
Italy may have recorded the highest temperature ever reached in Europe (Image: Getty Images)
He explained that a north-westerly wind off the Atlantic is actually pushing the heat from the south away from us.
This wind will bring cool weather, cloud, showery rain and "below-par" temperatures this week - although it will be quite dry.
The Met Office has responded to claims of another 'heatwave' and theories on what might happened towards the end of the month.
A spokesman said: "There is no indication in our forecast of any heatwave in the UK and certainly no indication that the heatwave impacting parts of Europe is going to impact the UK."
"There's been a lot of hyped up media coverage but there's nothing in the forecast to suggest anything more than average or potentially slightly above average temperatures."
The Met Office long forecast for September says there is a chance of 'warmer than average conditions' but also risk of 'thunder showers and rain'.
It's bad news for Scotland, which will likely experience more 'unsettled conditions'.
He explained that a north-westerly wind off the Atlantic is actually pushing the heat from the south away from us.
This wind will bring cool weather, cloud, showery rain and "below-par" temperatures this week - although it will be quite dry.
The Met Office has responded to claims of another 'heatwave' and theories on what might happened towards the end of the month.
A spokesman said: "There is no indication in our forecast of any heatwave in the UK and certainly no indication that the heatwave impacting parts of Europe is going to impact the UK."
"There's been a lot of hyped up media coverage but there's nothing in the forecast to suggest anything more than average or potentially slightly above average temperatures."
The Met Office long forecast for September says there is a chance of 'warmer than average conditions' but also risk of 'thunder showers and rain'.
It's bad news for Scotland, which will likely experience more 'unsettled conditions'.
Hundreds of firefighters tackle wildfire in southern France
Issued on: 16/08/2021
The fire was burning near the village of Gonfaron, about 50 km (30 miles) west of the Riviera town of Saint Tropez. Locals were told to stay well away from the blazeADVERTISI
Elsewhere in Europe, two wildfires, fanned by strong winds, raged out of control near Athens on Monday, forcing the evacuation of villages.
(REUTERS)
Issued on: 16/08/2021
A major fire has broken out in the Var region of southern France. © SDIS83
France dispatched hundreds of firefighters to battle a wildfire that broke out in the Var region of southern France, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Monday.
Much of the Mediterranean region has faced bouts of extremely hot weather in recent weeks but southern France had hitherto escaped any big blazes.
Darmanin said 650 firefighters had been deployed to protect residents in the area. Multiple water-bombing aircraft were also involved in the operation to contain the fire that has already burned several hundred hectares (acres), local authorities said.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin
France dispatched hundreds of firefighters to battle a wildfire that broke out in the Var region of southern France, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Monday.
Much of the Mediterranean region has faced bouts of extremely hot weather in recent weeks but southern France had hitherto escaped any big blazes.
Darmanin said 650 firefighters had been deployed to protect residents in the area. Multiple water-bombing aircraft were also involved in the operation to contain the fire that has already burned several hundred hectares (acres), local authorities said.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin
"Weather conditions are highly unfavourable," Darmanin said on Twitter.
The fire was burning near the village of Gonfaron, about 50 km (30 miles) west of the Riviera town of Saint Tropez. Locals were told to stay well away from the blazeADVERTISI
Elsewhere in Europe, two wildfires, fanned by strong winds, raged out of control near Athens on Monday, forcing the evacuation of villages.
(REUTERS)
Firefighters battle second day of blazes near Jerusalem
Issued on: 16/08/2021 -
Issued on: 16/08/2021 -
Ten firefighting planes and a helicopter along with hundreds of firefighters are battling blazes in the Jerusalem hills Ahmad GHARABLI AFP
Jerusalem (AFP)
Fires tore through the hills west of Jerusalem for a second day on Monday as firefighters struggled to contain an expanding blaze, Israeli police and the fire service said.
Police and local officials "began evacuating hundreds of families" from communities on the western outskirts of Jerusalem, police said in a statement.
Ten firefighting planes and a helicopter supported hundreds of firefighters, the National Fire and Rescue Authority said in a statement.
"The rate of fire progress is extremely fast," it said, adding that in some areas, firefighters were able to contain the blazes but not overcome them.
Fire and Rescue Commissioner Dedi Simchi announced he was calling all fire and rescue personnel to help battle the "huge" blaze.
The fires had broken out in the wooded hills east of Jerusalem on Sunday, sending acrid-smelling clouds of smoke that hung over the holy city and its iconic Dome of the Rock and forcing the evacuation of a psychiatric hospital.
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze before strong winds sent flames racing through the trees again on Monday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Authority told AFP three communities had been evacuated so far.
Police said the cause of the fire was not clear.
Fires have flared this summer around the Mediterranean basin, including in Greece, Turkey, Algeria and Morocco.
Israel experienced a week-long heatwave in early August.
Fresh fires force evacuations in Greek villages
Issued on: 16/08/2021
Jerusalem (AFP)
Fires tore through the hills west of Jerusalem for a second day on Monday as firefighters struggled to contain an expanding blaze, Israeli police and the fire service said.
Police and local officials "began evacuating hundreds of families" from communities on the western outskirts of Jerusalem, police said in a statement.
Ten firefighting planes and a helicopter supported hundreds of firefighters, the National Fire and Rescue Authority said in a statement.
"The rate of fire progress is extremely fast," it said, adding that in some areas, firefighters were able to contain the blazes but not overcome them.
Fire and Rescue Commissioner Dedi Simchi announced he was calling all fire and rescue personnel to help battle the "huge" blaze.
The fires had broken out in the wooded hills east of Jerusalem on Sunday, sending acrid-smelling clouds of smoke that hung over the holy city and its iconic Dome of the Rock and forcing the evacuation of a psychiatric hospital.
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze before strong winds sent flames racing through the trees again on Monday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Authority told AFP three communities had been evacuated so far.
Police said the cause of the fire was not clear.
Fires have flared this summer around the Mediterranean basin, including in Greece, Turkey, Algeria and Morocco.
Israel experienced a week-long heatwave in early August.
Fresh fires force evacuations in Greek villages
Issued on: 16/08/2021
Scores of firefighters battled fresh blazes in Greece Monday, including near the village of Markati, near Athens Angelos Tzortzinis AFP
Athens (AFP)
Greek firefighters battled to control two new fires around Athens on Monday, forcing the evacuation of several villages after blistering blazes scorched swathes of land in the country.
Greece's prime minister has linked the devastating blazes to the "climate crisis", speaking last week as wildfires swept across the Mediterranean, engulfing parts of Greece, Italy and Spain.
Scores of firefighters battled fresh blazes Monday near the Greek port city of Lavrio, as helicopters and planes dropped water from the air, a firefighting official told AFP.
Locals from three nearby villages southeast of Athens were ordered to evacuate.
"The fire front is large and the winds in the area are very strong," Thanasis Avgerinos, the deputy regional governor of East Attica told AFP.
"This is a very flammable pine-covered area."
Meanwhile, another forest fire broke out in Vilia, Attica, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) northwest of Athens, prompting the mobilisation of air and ground forces.
Authorities have called for the evacuation of two nearby villages, while another 40 firefighters were battling the blazes, according to a firefighting official.
The fires come on the heels of blazes in recent weeks that have destroyed homes, properties, pine forests, beehives and livestock across more than 100,000 hectares of affected land.
The island of Evia, 200 kilometres northeast of Athens, has paid the heaviest price with more than half of the hectares burned there.
The Peloponnese peninsula, 300 kilometres west of Athens, but also the northern suburbs of the capital, were also heavily affected by some 600 fires.
The blazes were finally brought under control Friday.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said the fires offered a dire warning.
"The climate crisis tells us everything must change," he said.
As global temperatures rise, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent and intense, and their impacts more widespread, scientists say.
© 2021 AFP
Athens (AFP)
Greek firefighters battled to control two new fires around Athens on Monday, forcing the evacuation of several villages after blistering blazes scorched swathes of land in the country.
Greece's prime minister has linked the devastating blazes to the "climate crisis", speaking last week as wildfires swept across the Mediterranean, engulfing parts of Greece, Italy and Spain.
Scores of firefighters battled fresh blazes Monday near the Greek port city of Lavrio, as helicopters and planes dropped water from the air, a firefighting official told AFP.
Locals from three nearby villages southeast of Athens were ordered to evacuate.
"The fire front is large and the winds in the area are very strong," Thanasis Avgerinos, the deputy regional governor of East Attica told AFP.
"This is a very flammable pine-covered area."
Meanwhile, another forest fire broke out in Vilia, Attica, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) northwest of Athens, prompting the mobilisation of air and ground forces.
Authorities have called for the evacuation of two nearby villages, while another 40 firefighters were battling the blazes, according to a firefighting official.
The fires come on the heels of blazes in recent weeks that have destroyed homes, properties, pine forests, beehives and livestock across more than 100,000 hectares of affected land.
The island of Evia, 200 kilometres northeast of Athens, has paid the heaviest price with more than half of the hectares burned there.
The Peloponnese peninsula, 300 kilometres west of Athens, but also the northern suburbs of the capital, were also heavily affected by some 600 fires.
The blazes were finally brought under control Friday.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said the fires offered a dire warning.
"The climate crisis tells us everything must change," he said.
As global temperatures rise, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent and intense, and their impacts more widespread, scientists say.
© 2021 AFP
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