Europe swelters as deadly May heatwave shatters records for a second day

Forecasters in Europe warned Tuesday of exceptional heat as record temperatures driven by a "heat dome" push temperatures well above seasonal norms across the continent.

The UK on Tuesday smashed a century old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours with temperature reaching 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) at London's Kew Gardens and Heathrow, Britain's Met Office weather service said. The provisional readings broke the long-standing record of 32.8 C (91.4 F) set in 1922 and matched in 1944.

London also recorded a rare “tropical night,” defined as one in which the temperature does not fall below 20 C (68 F).

"The weather here, it's like a mini version of hell. It's boiling. It's like really hot," said 10-year-old Liza Nizari on a visit to London, where temperatures normally average about 17C or 18C at this time of year.

Lindy Brand-Daloze, a 66-year-old Australian living in London for 12 years, said: "It's warm, but it's climate change, isn't it? So, you know, (we have) probably got to get used to this."

The surge also follows a record-breaking Monday in France, which logged its hottest day in the month of May on record, as temperatures hit 36 C (97 F) in the country’s southwest and widely remained above 20 C at night, according to its weather agency.

"It's a bit worrying because it's not really normal at this time of year, but unfortunately I think this is going to become the norm in France," student Chloe Voisin, 22, told AFP while touring the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

A so-called "heat dome" of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the high temperatures not usually seen until high summer.

Restrictions on outdoor work were imposed in parts of Italy, beaches in southwest France filled earlier than usual and farmers reported accelerated harvests as temperatures went beyond 30C across the region.

Temperatures in Spain were expected to peak later this week at 38C, while parts of Italy imposed restrictions on working outdoors.

Read moreEurope hit by record heat, glacier loss and marine extremes per climate report

Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying such extremes, with Europe warming faster than the global average and heatwaves growing more frequent and severe.

The Met Office forecast a drop later in the week.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said the increase in extreme temperatures was "a good indication of climate change in action" and more likely to become "the new norm".

Climate advisers last week warned the UK government that the country was "built for a climate that no longer exists" and urged it to adapt infrastructure like schools and hospitals for a warming planet.

In 2022, temperatures in the UK soared above 40C for the first time since records began.

A record May temperature of 28.8C was recorded at two weather stations in Ireland: Killarney in the southwest and Clonmel in the south, Met Eireann data showed.

A grass fire broke out near Arthur's Seat hill near Edinburgh, sending smoke over the Scottish city that saw temperatures climb to 25C, according to fire fighters and the BBC.

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Heatwave-linked deaths

At least three teenagers died in apparent drownings in U.K. lakes and reservoirs, and a 60-year-old man died in the sea in southwest England, authorities said Tuesday.

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber health alert for large parts of the country through Thursday, warning of a potential health risk, particularly among older people, at the hottest times of the day.

Across the Channel, weather agency Météo-France said that for France as a whole: "Monday was the hottest day recorded for the month of May since measurements began".

It said highs of 33C to 36C in regions were expected, adding that the spell was likely to last at least until the end of the week.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was to hold a meeting Thursday with key ministers to go over government preparations, with seven people reported to have died so far in connection with the heatwave, including five by drowning.

"What I can say today is that there have been seven deaths directly or indirectly related to the heat," government spokesperson Maud Bregeon told television broadcaster TF1.

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Bregeon's office told AFP that the drowning incidents occurred in different areas across France, from southeast Lyon to the Atlantic coast.

High temperatures on Monday drove many people to the country's beaches to cool off in the water, even though lifeguard supervision is not due to start in many areas until July.

On Sunday, a man died during a 10-kilometre running race in Paris, civil defence services said, while 10 more had to be taken to hospital in critical condition after a race in the capital's suburb of Maisons-Alfort, the authorities said.

The sweltering heat on Monday melted tennis fans at Roland Garros in Paris.

Outdoor work restricted

In Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warned the "extraordinarily high temperatures for this time of year" will continue across the country all week, except in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa.

"Widespread tropical nights" are also forecast in southwestern Spain from Wednesday, with temperatures peaking from Wednesday to Friday at between 36C and 38C, it wrote on X.

Farther east, Italy's Lazio region, which includes Rome, on Monday approved rules limiting work in conditions "with prolonged exposure in the sun" between 12:30pm and 4pm.

The measures apply, for example, to farms, construction sites and in the logistics sector and apply until September 15.

Similar rules had been put in place last year but only from May 30.

Europe is the continent that has experienced the fastest warming since 1990, closely followed by Asia, with North America in third place, according to data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)