A record-breaking May heatwave swept western Europe on Tuesday, killing at least seven people in France and pushing temperatures far beyond anything recorded for the month in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as scientists warned the dangerous early-season event is becoming a hallmark of climate change.
France recorded its hottest May day yet again on Tuesday, with Météo France projecting temperatures could reach 39°C in some areas before the week is out. The national heat index — measuring average temperature across the country — hit 24.8°C, surpassing Monday’s record of 24.6°C. France’s first-ever May heat warning since the system was introduced in 2004 remained active across 13 departments on orange alert, with another 29 on lower yellow warnings. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called a meeting of key ministers for Thursday to review government heatwave preparations.
At least seven deaths in France have been linked directly or indirectly to the extreme heat, including five by drowning as people sought relief in rivers and beaches, and two during outdoor sporting events — a 53-year-old man who died during a 10km road race in Paris, and a woman who died of hyperthermia at a Hyrox fitness competition in Lyon. Sixteen people were hospitalized, ten in critical condition, following another road race in the Paris suburb of Maisons-Alfort.
The United Kingdom posted its hottest May temperature on record for the second consecutive day, reaching 35°C near London on Tuesday after Monday’s 33.5°C mark. A wildfire broke out near Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat, and hundreds of properties in southeast England were left without water as demand for mains supply spiked. Ireland logged a record May high of 28.8°C at two weather stations. Parts of western Europe were experiencing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal norms throughout the week.
Spain’s state weather service Aemet said widespread highs of 36–38°C were expected to persist possibly through Friday in the Guadiana, Guadalquivir and Ebro valleys, with temperatures in some areas potentially reaching 40°C. Italy’s Lazio region, which includes Rome, imposed restrictions on outdoor work between 12:30pm and 4pm forFarmers, construction workers and delivery personnel.
Researchers said the episode was caused by a heat dome trapping hot air from Morocco under an area of high pressure, and forecast such events to grow more frequent, more intense and more pronounced earlier in the year. “This is an unprecedented event with a one in 1,000 chance of happening at this time of year,” climate scientist Christophe Cassou told Le Monde. “It would have been virtually impossible in the preindustrial era.”