Why Is a Heatwave Called a Cerberus and What Is It?

Anticyclone-induced high heat in southern Europe has been given the unofficial name "Cerberus" after the three-headed watchdog of the underworld, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C (104°F) in some spots.

Greek mythology describes Cerberus as a three-headed (or sometimes fifty-headed) dog with a serpent's tail who guards the gateway to the underworld and eats any who try to flee. Some may argue that this description fits the anticyclone that is currently endangering areas of Europe.

According to meteorologist Stefano Rossi, "The three heads indicate the three main climatic zones into which Italy will be divided,"

Although it has been widely reported that "Cerberus" is the Italian Meteorological Society's official moniker for the heatwave, some people are not thrilled with its use.

According to Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, "The name is unofficial, and we absolutely don't use it." Mercalli continues by stating that he thinks the name sensationalistic and that the usage of "scary names" can desensitize the public to the very real dangers of excessive heat.

The Italian weather website iLMeteo, which frequently names anticyclones after legendary figures, is actually the source of the term. According to Antonio San, the company's founder, "Our names are not official but always become quickly famous, thanks to our popularity."

Although certain heatwaves have been given official names, this practice is still uncommon compared to other meteorological systems like hurricanes. The first named instance of excessive heat occurred in Seville, Spain, last year, where "Zoe" delivered temperatures that reached 44.4°C (112°F).

Since that time, the promoter Sevilla Project has been working with the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Centre to create naming conventions for this kind of activity. The project's goal is to promote public understanding and instruction regarding the use of heat-risk treatments.

This proposed official name structure is intended to create a standardized and globally recognized system, with a ranking system that takes into account daytime and nighttime temperatures, cloud cover, humidity, and other characteristics.

Their names are given in reverse alphabetical order and are generally rare Spanish names. It has been given the name "Xenia" for the heatwave of 2023, although it should be noted that this term only pertains to the weather in Seville because the system is not yet officially recognized worldwide.

While pointing out that storms and floods are significantly more visually striking than heat disasters, Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of Arsht-Rock, asserts that a heat wave needs branding and identity.

Currently, the World Meteorological Organisation does not officially designate heat waves, but Baughman McLeod and her coworkers are hopeful that in the upcoming years, a standardized, globally accepted approach will be developed. That is precisely our goal, she states. She declines to remark on Cerberus' suitability and points out that the name Xenia merely refers to the heat wave in Seville.

Her organization uses an algorithm that considers daytime and overnight temperatures, cloud cover, humidity, and other elements to decide whether a heat wave needs a name. According to Baughman McLeod, the heat wave receives a name if the algorithm indicates there is a significant risk to life, such as a projected 30 percent increase in overall mortality.

According to Stephen Dixon, a spokeswoman for the UK Met Office, the heat wave that is currently affecting southern Europe is not currently affecting the UK. Additionally, because the name Cerberus was not coined by a national Met service, "it's not something we'd refer to," he says of the designation.

Major storms are given names by the Met Office, but at the moment there are no plans to designate heat waves. Through its heat-health alert systems, the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office issue warnings with four severity levels, from green to red. The latter denotes "significant risk to life" and was in effect for some regions of the nation during the excessive heat event of the previous year.

Otto thinks there are a lot of things we can take to lessen the effects of extremely high temperatures. These include things like frequently drinking water, keeping an eye on older family members, and reevaluating urban planning. She uses a boulevard with large trees as an example, noting how much cooler it can be on a sunny day—up to several degrees Celsius: "That makes a huge difference."

Unfortunately, we will undoubtedly have more heat waves in the near future, and they will likely be stronger. Climate science demonstrates to us that this is what will occur, claims Cloke.

San and his coworkers at iLMeteo will be prepared with an evocative list of names drawn from centuries-old myths as we all try our best to cope with fierce summer weather whenever it comes our way. As of this writing, the next anticyclone, which is anticipated in the following few days, might push Rome's temperature to a record-breaking 43 degrees Celsius.

The upcoming high-pressure event will be named "Caronte" or "Charon" in advance, after the boatman who ferries souls to the Greek underworld, where only the dead may enter.