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Explained in plain English

What causes heatwaves?

Heatwaves happen when a 'dome' of high pressure traps hot air over a region for several days or weeks, preventing cooler air from moving in. This high pressure also suppresses cloud formation, allowing the sun to bake the ground directly. This is what caused the intense heat in France, making Macron's jet ski outing particularly controversial.

Stories that explain this

Macron criticised for jet ski photo during French heatwaves

Questions this opens up

What is a high-pressure system? How does climate change affect heatwaves? Why are heatwaves dangerous?

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