Record May Temperatures Grip Europe, Claiming Lives in France

Much of Europe is grappling with an intense heatwave, pushing temperatures to record highs for May and prompting weather alerts across multiple nations. France has tragically recorded its first heat-related fatalities, with two people dying while engaged in sports and an additional five succumbing to drowning incidents.

The severe heat is attributed to a potent anticyclone extending from North Africa to the British Isles. In France, eight western departments are under orange alert for heat, an unprecedented situation for May. Temperatures on Monday reached record highs, and forecasts predict a further increase to 33-36 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with the heat expected to continue until the end of the week.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to chair an interministerial meeting on Thursday to assess public service preparedness for the ongoing heat. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom experienced a 'tropical night' as minimum temperatures in South London remained above 21.3 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded for May. Tuesday's maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 35 degrees Celsius.

Ireland has also set a new maximum temperature record for May, with 28.8 degrees Celsius recorded in two stations. The heatwave is expected to continue until Wednesday, with temperatures around 28 degrees, before a change in weather brings rain from the southwest. In Spain, maximum temperatures on Tuesday are expected to range between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius in the south and west, potentially reaching 40 degrees in some areas by Wednesday or Friday.