London hits record 35C as early heatwave bakes Europe amid climate concerns

London shattered its May temperature record Tuesday, soaring past 35 degrees Celsius as an unusually early and intense heatwave continued to bake Europe. The extreme heat has brought both record-breaking highs and tragic consequences across the UK and the continent.

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Today is now the hottest day in May on record with Heathrow and Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35 [degrees Celsius]

The British capital registered its hottest May day since records began, surpassing Monday's previous record of 33.5C. Heathrow and Kew Gardens provisionally reached 35C. This heatwave has also caused rare "tropical nights," where temperatures remain above 20C overnight, offering little respite. Many UK homes lack air conditioning, making the high temperatures particularly challenging.

The sweltering conditions have had devastating outcomes. Authorities in England reported that four teenagers drowned in separate incidents since Sunday. The heat has also strained infrastructure; London's non-air-conditioned Underground system became sweltering, and a grass fire near Edinburgh sent smoke billowing from Arthur's Seat.

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Until yesterday the highest temperature in May was 32.8°C, but we've now exceeded that record on consecutive days by a full two degrees Celsius.

Scientists emphasize that human-caused climate change is driving these earlier and more extreme heatwaves in Europe. The continent is experiencing temperatures typically seen in mid-summer, with France reporting highs of 36C and Spain's Seville reaching 38C over the weekend. A "heat dome" effect, where a high-pressure system traps heat, is exacerbating the situation, pushing temperatures more than 10C above seasonal norms.

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we find ourselves with temperatures we normally see in the middle of the summer now in the month of May