Expert says natural weather pattern, not CO, is driving Europe’s ‘heatwave’

A US meteorological expert has argued that the intense heat affecting much of Europe this week is primarily the result of a naturally occurring atmospheric weather pattern rather than “greenhouse gas emissions”, challenging widespread legacy media coverage linking the temperatures directly to “climate change”.

Chris Martz says the current conditions are being driven by an “omega block” – a persistent jet stream pattern named after the Greek letter Ω. The pattern features a strong high-pressure system trapped between two low-pressure systems, allowing hot, stable weather to remain over the same region for extended periods.

According to Martz, the omega block is drawing hot Saharan air northwards into Europe. He says that as the air descends beneath the high-pressure system it warms further through adiabatic compression, a well-understood physical process that does not rely on carbon dioxide as a direct mechanism.

Martz argues that omega blocks are a documented meteorological phenomenon that has occurred repeatedly throughout history and could have produced similar heat events before the industrial era. He also points to studies suggesting Arctic warming may reduce the frequency of omega blocks by weakening the temperature gradient between the equator and the poles, which he says complicates claims that climate change is causing or intensifying this type of weather pattern.

He further contends that Europe’s stricter air pollution controls may also be playing a role. According to Martz, lower levels of atmospheric aerosols and particulate pollution can reduce cloud formation, allowing more solar radiation to reach the surface and increasing daytime temperatures.

Martz criticised what he described as an oversimplified legacy media narrative, arguing that reports frequently attribute extreme heat to climate change without adequately discussing alternative meteorological explanations. He said greater scientific nuance is needed when explaining heatwaves to the public.

His analysis has been widely shared on social media and has been endorsed by CLINTEL (Climate Intelligence), an organisation that says it represents more than 2,000 climate scientists. European science journalist Marcel Crok, who is associated with the group, has also expressed support for Martz’s assessment.

El meteorólogo estadounidense Chris Martz (@ChrisMartzWX) explica por qué hace tanto calor esta semana en Europa y no, no se debe al cambio climático (aunque el cambio climático sea un hecho –pero no una crisis).

Europa es el continente que más ha reducido sus emisiones de CO2… https://t.co/LKiI3OC2mm pic.twitter.com/m9hSbq3ZcM

— JOSE GEFAELL (@ChGefaell) June 28, 2026