Matt Palmer on Unsplash" />The 'heat dome' will bring a prologed heatwave to parts of Europe. Just when we thought we’d heard the last of hot weather events for 2026, a September heatwave has been forecast across Europe, with warnings of a ‘heat dome’ over the continent. According to the BBC, France and Spain have been among the hottest locations in Europe with temperatures exceeding 40C at times – around 10C hotter than the average temperature at this time of year. “The extreme heat is forecast to intensify for central and eastern areas over the next few days,” they added. What is a heat dome? A heat dome develops “when a large area of high pressure becomes established over a region and remains there for an extended period”, according to weather and climate experts at the Met Office. “Under high pressure, air sinks through the atmosphere. As it sinks, it becomes compressed and warms. At the same time, cloud formation is suppressed, allowing strong sunshine to reach the ground,” they explain. The longer it goes on, the greater the heating effect. “Clear skies encourage daytime temperatures to rise, while soils gradually dry out. As ground moisture decreases, less solar energy is used for evaporation and more becomes available to directly heat the land surface and the air above it,” they added. It becomes a vicious cycle, where dry ground promotes additional warming, encouraging further drying. And because warm air occupies a deeper layer of the atmosphere than cooler air, the resulting pattern can resemble a dome-shaped area of heat – hence the name. Is the UK going to experience a heat dome? According to the BBC, the UK will not be massively impacted by the heat dome and the highest temperatures are behind us for now, it seems. While there were warmer temperatures over the weekend for some parts of southern England, they assure: “The warmth is forecast to fade quickly as fresher Atlantic air and rain-bearing fronts are likely to arrive through next week. “A return to heatwave conditions is unlikely through the next 10 days.” The long-range weather forecast from the Met Office for 11-20 September suggests “dry interludes and relatively cool nights” are on the cards, “interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers arriving from the west, perhaps accompanied by some strong winds at times too”. The UK is bracing itself for wetter, stormier conditions throughout autumn and winter as a result of a ‘supersized’ El Niño weather event. Experts suggest dry, settled weather looks “unlikely” as we reach mid-September and that temperatures will be close to average overall – with some relatively cool nights here and there. Related... 6 Ways This Hot Summer Has Put A Strain On The UK Way Of Living Experts Explain How Heatwaves Impact Your Health A 'Supersized' El Niño Is Coming, Here’s How It Will Hit UK Weather This Winter