More climate records under threat as spring heatwave bakes western Europe
The so-called “heat dome” of warm air from North Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over Western Europe is behind the kind of heat not usually seen until mid-summer.
France’s weather agency reported that Monday was the hottest day on record in May, and Tuesday is predicted to be even hotter. Unprecedentedly high temperatures have also been recorded in the UK, and Italy has also imposed restrictions on outdoor work.
On Tuesday, French authorities reported at least seven heatwave-related deaths; five of these were drownings, with many people seeking help on beaches and other bodies of water.
Scientists say that human-induced climate change is increasing such extremes, and weather events such as heat waves, droughts and floods are becoming more intense and frequent.
The UK Met Office weather agency said Monday was the hottest May day on record, with temperatures at Kew Gardens in south-west London reaching 34.8C, a full two degrees above the previous high.
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Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst told AFP that the rise in extreme temperatures was “a good indicator that climate change is at work” and was more likely to become the “new norm”.
A record May temperature of 28.8C was recorded at two of Ireland’s weather stations amid the current extreme heat, according to Met Eireann data.
A grass fire near Arthur’s Seat near Edinburgh sent smoke over the Scottish city, where temperatures soared to 25C, according to firefighters and the BBC.
fatal turn
Across the Channel, France’s weather agency said “Monday was the hottest day on record for May since measurements began” as tennis fans in the capital Paris baked in 33-degree heat at Roland Garros.
High temperatures of 36 degrees are expected in some areas on Tuesday, Meteo-France said, adding that this spell will likely last until at least the weekend.
Government officials also noted that the temperature had reached a lethal level.
“What I can say today is that there have been seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to the heat,” government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told television broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday.
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Although lifeguard supervision doesn’t begin until July in many areas, the heat has driven many people to the nation’s beaches to cool off in the water.
“We were wondering this morning if the beach was inspected,” Thomas Dupuy told AFP as he visited a beach in the southwestern city of Anglet with his two young children.
“I am extremely careful for myself and my children who cannot swim yet,” he said. “We know that currents can pull you out, Atlantic beaches are dangerous.”
On Monday, the western town of Bergerac recorded a high temperature of 34.7 degrees, with the cities of Nantes and Angers not far behind.
Working outdoors is restricted
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has warned that “extraordinarily high temperatures for this time of year” will continue throughout the country throughout the week, except for the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to X, “widespread tropical nights” are also expected in southwestern Spain from Wednesday, with temperatures peaking between 36°C and 38°C from Wednesday to Friday.
Further east, Italy’s Lazio region, which includes Rome, on Monday approved rules limiting work in conditions of “prolonged sun exposure” between 12:30pm and 4pm.
A report published in April by the European Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization said that since the 1980s, “Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average” and “heatwaves have become increasingly frequent and severe” across at least 95 percent of the continent’s landmass.
