As Cerberus roasts Europe, why are some heat waves getting names?

Zoe, Xenia, Cleon and Cerberus.

You might have heard these names come up recently. They don’t belong to people. Rather they are monikers appointed to heat waves around the world.

Cerberus is the most recent name for the heat wave currently burning through southern Europe. In Greek mythology, Cerberus is a ferocious three-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld.

A number of European countries have reported blistering heat of over 40 degrees Celsius the past few days. The…