A powerful weather pattern known as an "omega block" is helping sustain the intense heatwave sweeping across Western Europe, where temperatures have soared above 40°C and dozens of heat-related deaths have been reported, according to a Reuters report.

Temperatures could hit 38-40C in parts of England and Wales, smashing June record set in 1976; red alerts in France after 19 heat deaths

Vittime in Francia, boccheggiano Spagna e Italia. Dietro temperature europee che sfiorano i 40 gradi c'è una particolare configurazione atmosferica. Ecco cos'è…

An atmospheric phenomenon called "omega block" has parked an oppressive heat dome over the continent.

The Omega block pattern takes its name from the Greek letter Ω: a bulge of warm, high-pressure air held between two pockets of cooler, low-pressure air. | World News

Europe is baking under a scorching heatwave, with health warnings in place across western and central parts of the continent as temperatures climb to record-breaking highs.

A powerful weather pattern known as an "omega block" is helping sustain the intense heatwave sweeping across Western Europe, where temperatures have soared above 40°C and dozens…

Europe is warming at more than twice the global average

Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, the World Meteorological Organization has said, which makes prolonged heat episodes increasingly likely

Europe's current heatwave is fuelled by a weather pattern known as an Omega block.

Western Europe was in the grip of a heat wave on Wednesday that shattered records, caused the deaths of dozens of people, closed schools, knocked out electricity and wiped out…