Dossier
Heatwaves
- National prediction and alert system
- What heat waves are
- Health risks
- Advice for defending yourself from the heat
What heat waves are
Heat waves are extreme meteorological conditions that occur during the summer, characterised by high temperatures, above usual values, that may last days or weeks.
The WMO, World Meteorological Organization has not drawn up a standard definition of a heat wave, but in different countries heat waves are when the temperature exceeds threshold values set as the highest values observed in the past and registered for any given area.
A heat wave relates to the climatic conditions in a certain area and it is therefore impossible to define a risk temperature threshold valid for all latitudes.
In addition to temperatures and relative humidity, heat waves are also judged by their duration. It has in fact been proven that prolonged periods of extreme weather conditions have greater impact on our health than isolated days with the same weather conditions.
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