Europe’s ‘Heat Dome’ Has Moved East. Here’s What to Know.

Much of Eastern Europe remained in the grip of a blistering heat wave on Monday as a persistent “heat dome” responsible for shattering numerous temperature records continued to shift east.

That movement, which started over the weekend, brought respite to parts of Western Europe, where cooler Atlantic air filtered in after days of exceptional heat. Temperatures last week exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and set records in countries including Britain, France and Spain.

Eastern Europe is now bracing for the same: A raft of high-level heat warnings are in place, and temperatures are forecast to reach the low 40s Celsius in some areas.

This is Europe’s second major heat wave in two months. Here’s what to know.

How hot will it get?

High-level heat warnings from the weekend remained in place on Monday over much of Eastern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean basin.

Poland: Most of the country was under its highest warning for extreme heat on Monday, with a high of 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) expected in some regions. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, the national weather service, warned of a high risk of forest fires in the southeast. It said temperatures on Sunday peaked at 40.5 degrees Celsius (104.9 Fahrenheit) in Slubice, western Poland, provisionally setting a national record.
Czech Republic: Swaths of the east remained under the highest heat warnings on Monday, with forecasters expecting temperatures to exceed 37 Celsius (99 Fahrenheit). The CHMI, the national weather service, said temperatures had peaked at 41.9 Celsius (107.2 Fahrenheit) on Sunday in Doksany, north of Prague. If verified, that would set a record for the country — one that was just broken on Saturday.
Hungary: The entire country was under the highest heat warning on Monday. Hungaro Met, the national weather service, said the peak was expected Tuesday, with temperatures up to 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit), which would set a record for the country.
Austria: “Exceptionally high temperatures” are forecast for the east, GeoSphere, the national weather service, said, warning of highs near 39 Celsius. On Sunday, it said, temperature records were broken at weather stations across the country.
Romania: The ANM, the national meteorological agency, issued its highest-level heat warnings across much of the country, with temperatures in some areas forecast up to 41 Celsius (106 Fahrenheit). Officials said the heat could bring severe thunderstorms in places.
Germany: The worst heat had mostly lifted by Monday, although parts of Bavaria, in the southeast, remained hot. A provisional high of 41.7 Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) was recorded on Sunday in Brandenburg, near the Polish border. If confirmed, it would be Germany’s highest temperature on record, according to the Deutscher Wetterdienst, the national weather service.
Parts of Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia were also forecast to approach 40 Celsius on Monday, with high-level heat warnings from the weekend remaining across much of the region.

Europe is heating up fast.

While tying a single heat wave to climate change requires extensive analysis, scientists have no doubt that heat waves around the world are becoming hotter, longer and more frequent, and Europe is warming faster than any other continent.

Last year, almost the entire continent was hotter than normal. Researchers estimate that in recent years, Europe has had tens of thousands of heat-related deaths annually.

Many homes, schools and businesses across Europe were built for an older, cooler climate. In Britain, many were even built to retain heat. Air-conditioning is not a quick fix. In France, installing such systems has become a political issue, while in Britain, high energy prices are a deterrent.

In hotter Mediterranean cities, where old-fashioned courtyards, heavy shutters and white-stone facades can keep homes cool, many newer buildings were constructed using techniques that trap heat.

How to cool off.

Staying cool and hydrating often are the two most important things to do to avoid feeling sick or uncomfortable in extreme heat. Here are some ways to keep cool:

Block the windows in your home — especially those that get afternoon sun — with a blanket or a darker sheet during the day to keep the heat out. At night, keep windows open and run fans to circulate the air.
Spritz your skin with cool or room-temperature water or wipe your forehead with a cool cloth. Cold showers also help.
If you need to be outdoors, bring a water bottle with ice cubes. If you plan to exercise, douse your head in cold water. Swimming is also a great way to exercise and keep cool, if it is safe.
When sightseeing, seek out cooler attractions such as museums, cathedrals or even subterranean exhibitions. Some cities have created public spaces to cool down: Barcelona has climate shelters, and Paris has drinking fountains, for example. London has a Cool Spaces map to find spots.
Watch out for signs of heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists some of them as dizziness, a rapid pulse, nausea, headache and fainting. But symptoms can vary.