Heat dome over Europe scorches UK, France, Spain

A high-pressure system trapping warm African air over western Europe caused record-breaking May temperatures across the UK, France, and Spain this week. The UK’s Met Office reported its hottest May day on record, with temperatures reaching 34.8C at Kew Gardens in southwest London—two degrees higher than the previous high. France’s Meteo-France issued heatwave alerts for eight western regions, warning of three consecutive days of intense heat posing health risks. Paris experienced its first 30C+ day of the year at 31.9C, while Brittany and southern France faced temperatures up to 37C through the weekend. In Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) forecasted temperatures between 36C and 38C in southwestern regions, including "tropical nights" where temperatures remain high overnight. Italy’s Lazio region restricted outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to protect workers from prolonged sun exposure, extending similar rules from last year. Scientists attributed the extreme heat to human-induced climate change, noting it aligns with trends of more frequent and intense heatwaves. The heatwave disrupted daily life, with a 28-year-old woman dying of heatstroke at an indoor athletics event in eastern France and a man collapsing during a 10-kilometer race in Paris, leaving 10 others hospitalized. In London, residents described temperatures nearing 35C as unusually severe for May, with averages typically around 17C–18C. Climate advisers warned the UK’s infrastructure, built for a cooler climate, must adapt to rising temperatures, following a 2022 record where UK temperatures exceeded 40C for the first time. Forecasters expect the heat dome to persist through the week, with no immediate relief in sight for affected regions. The event underscores growing concerns over climate change’s impact on public health and infrastructure resilience across Europe.