'Heat Dome' Covers Europe: UK, France, and Ireland Record Hottest May Days

The UK, Ireland, and France recorded their highest May temperatures on record today, as meteorologists warned that Europe would remain under extreme heat throughout the week. According to AFP, warm air from North Africa has been trapped under a high-pressure system in Western Europe, creating a 'heat dome' that brings unusually high temperatures typically seen in midsummer. Temperatures in Spain are expected to soar to 38 degrees Celsius later this week, while parts of Italy have implemented restrictions on outdoor work. The UK Met Office noted that Kew Gardens in southwest London recorded 34.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees higher than the previous record, marking the hottest May day in UK history. The Met Office stated on X, 'This level of heat is unusual even in the height of a British summer, let alone in May.' Average temperatures in London at this time of year are usually around 17 to 18 degrees Celsius. Lindy Brand-Daloze, a 66-year-old Australian resident who has lived in London for 12 years, said, 'It's hot, this is climate change, right? We probably have to get used to this.' Scientists point out that human-caused climate change is intensifying extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, causing temperature records to be broken frequently. UK climate advisors urged authorities last week to retrofit infrastructure such as schools and hospitals to adapt to a warming climate. In 2022, UK temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius for the first time in history. Data from Met Eireann shows that weather stations in Killarney and Clonmel recorded 28.8 degrees Celsius, setting a May high-temperature record. Meteo-France stated that multiple cities in France broke 'dozens' of high-temperature records and issued heatwave alerts for several western regions. This abnormal heat is expected to continue until the weekend. The town of Bergerac recorded 34.7 degrees Celsius today, with Nantes and Angers seeing similar temperatures. Meteo-France indicated that temperatures in most of Brittany are expected to be between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius tomorrow, with 'some southern regions potentially reaching 36 to 37 degrees.' French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to convene a meeting on the 28th to review the government's preparations for the heatwave. Paris reached 31.9 degrees Celsius on the 23rd, the first time this year temperatures exceeded 30 degrees. The scorching weather is also affecting spectators at the French Open, with fan Loick Labrousse saying, 'The sun above the center court is very harsh; it's unbearable after two hours.' Spain's Aemet warned that except for the Canary Islands, the entire country will continue to experience 'unusually high temperatures for this time of year' throughout the week. The agency posted on X that from the 27th, 'widespread tropical nights' will occur in southwestern Spain, with highs between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius from the 27th to the 29th. The Lazio region of Italy approved new regulations today restricting long-term outdoor work between 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM. This measure applies to farms, construction sites, and logistics, and is effective until September 15. Italy implemented similar regulations last year, which took effect on May 30.