In late May, a heat dome settled over Western Europe, trapping hot air from Africa and blocking cooler weather. At Kew Gardens in southwest London, the thermometer climbed to 35.1°C, breaking Britain's May record by more than two degrees. The previous record, set in 1944, had stood for over eighty years. Within two days, it fell twice.
Across Western Europe, temperatures soared 10 to 15°C above normal. France recorded its hottest May day ever, with 352 weather stations breaking records. Wales, Italy, and Spain all faced extreme heat and issued warnings.
Scientist Christophe Cassou called it "unprecedented," with a one-in-1,000 chance of occurring at this time of year. In the preindustrial era, it would have been virtually impossible.
The heat proved deadly. France reported at least seven heat-related deaths, including five drownings as people sought relief in water. In the UK, approximately eleven people died in water-related incidents, mostly children. A 53-year-old man collapsed during a running race in Paris.
The crisis extended beyond deaths. Grass fires erupted near Edinburgh, water shortages affected 18,000 homes in southeast England, and dangerous conditions spread globally. On the same days, over 150 weather stations in China set records for warmest May nights. New Delhi recorded its hottest May night in fourteen years.
Europe warms twice as fast as the global average. The record at Kew may not survive another century.