‘Heat dome’ drives record May temperatures for parts of Europe

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

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.

Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying such extremes, with weather events like heatwaves, droughts and floods becoming more intense and frequent.

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.

Europe and the rest of the world could face an extremely hot summer as the El Nino weather phenomenon, which pushed global temperatures to record highs in 2024, is expected to return in the middle of the year.

Which countries across Europe are currently most affected?

France

French authorities on Tuesday reported at least seven deaths linked to the heatwave - five of which were drownings, as many people sought relief on beaches and other bodies of water. 

French weather agency Meteo-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 33℃ to 36℃ in regions were expected, adding that the spell was likely to last at least until the end of the week, with Tuesday set to be even hotter than the previous day.

After recording 34.7℃ in the western town of Bergerac on Monday, highs of 36℃ were expected in some regions on Tuesday, the French weather agency forecast. 

Tennis fans in Paris baked in temperatures of 33℃ at Roland Garros, with players having to battle through the stifling heat. 

On Sunday, a man died during a 10-kilometer running race in Paris, civil defense 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.

UK

Britain saw its hottest day on record for May on Monday, the country's national weather service said, with the temperature nearing 35℃.

The Met Office said the temperature hit 34.8℃ at west London's Kew Gardens, provisionally exceeding Britain's previous 32.8℃ May record, seen in both 1922 and 194, by a full two degrees.

A grass fire broke out near Arthur's Seat hill near Edinburgh, sending smoke over the Scottish city.

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". However, the Met Office forecast a drop later in the week.

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

Spain

Spain's State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) also warned of "extraordinarily high temperatures for this time of year" that will continue across the country all week, except in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean.

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

Italy

Italy's Lazio region, which includes Rome, on Monday approved rules limiting work in conditions "with prolonged exposure in the sun" between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm. 

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.

Ireland

A record May temperature of 28.8℃ was recorded at two of Ireland's weather stations amid the current blast of heat, Met Eireann data showed.

How hot was last summer?

Europe endured a historic heatwave across Nordic countries, shrinking glaciers and record sea temperatures in 2025. 

A report published by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO found at least 95 percent of the region experienced above-average annual temperatures, with Britain, Norway and Iceland recording their warmest year on record. 

Sub-Arctic Finland, Norway and Sweden - a region dubbed Fennoscandia - experienced a record three-week heatwave in July, with temperatures reaching 30℃ within the Arctic Circle.

Parts of Fennoscandia had almost two weeks of "strong heat stress" - when temperatures feel hotter than 32℃. In an average year, the region will normally have up to two days of strong heat stress.

In Türkiye temperatures reached 50℃ for the first time last July while 85 percent of the Greek population was affected by extreme temperatures close to or above 40℃.

Large parts of western and southern Europe were hit with two significant heatwaves in June, including most of Spain, Portugal, France and southern parts of Britain.

A third major heatwave struck Portugal, Spain and France in August.