Western Europe is facing its first major heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to exceed 30°C across many areas and reach up to 38°C in parts of Spain and France. [1, 2, 3] The extreme heat is driven by a high-pressure system known as a "heat dome" that has trapped hot air from Morocco, pushing temperatures up to 11°C above normal for this time of year. [1, 2, 3]
Spain experienced 38°C temperatures on May 21 in the Guadiana and Guadalquivir regions, where the heat is most intense. [1, 2, 3] In south-west France, temperatures are expected to climb as high as 35°C. [1, 2, 3] French forecasters with Météo-France warn that both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to reach unprecedented levels for May, describing the event as premature, intense, and lasting several days. [2]
Météo-France also said records are almost certain to be broken for the highest May temperature and highest average daily temperature in France. [3] "Climate breakdown means Europe could expect such exceptional heat events more and more often and more prematurely, and to be more and more intense," the agency added. [2]
London and Paris are expected to see peak temperatures around 32°C on May 24 and May 25, with some UK areas possibly hitting 33°C locally on May 25. [1, 2, 3] The UK Met Office has issued "extraordinary" heat health alerts across parts of the country for the weekend and warns that some locations could enter an official heatwave if temperatures remain above 26°C to 28°C for three days. [2, 3]
Annie Shuttleworth from the UK Met Office said, "This could be quite a notable event when it comes to heat." The current UK May temperature record is 32.8°C, set in 1944, and the upcoming temperatures could challenge this. [1, 2, 3]
Tragically, the heatwave has already been linked to the death of a two-year-old girl left in a car in north-west Spain, authorities said. [2]
The heat dome effect began on May 21 as warm air from Morocco moved north into France through the Iberian Peninsula. [3] The heatwave is expected to persist into the following week beyond May 22, prolonging the above-normal temperatures. [1, 3]
