Europe sweltered under a record-breaking heatwave on Tuesday as temperatures soared, pushing mercury levels way above the normal levels for May. The UK and France logged their hottest ever day in the month of May on Monday, with the UK recording a temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens in southwest London, breaking the record of 34.8.
France too experienced its hottest-ever May day on Monday, and again on Tuesday, with the country's weather agency forecasting that the heatwave could last for the rest of the week. Temperatures could rise to as high as 39 degrees Celsius in some places.
People in western Europe headed to beaches, and were seen using handheld fans and umbrellas on the streets to bear the heat. Crowds were seen at Rome's Barcaccia fountain and bubblers in the Jardin du Palais Royal in Paris.
The heatwave is attributed to a so-called “heat dome” of warm air from northern Africa, which has led to an unprecedented increase in temperatures. A high pressure system has trapped the warm air over western Europe.
French health minister Stephanie Rist said it was not “an emergency situation”, but added, “We need to be wary of these heatwaves, even if we're starting to get used to them.” Human-driven climate change has also amplified the extremes in weather, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods becoming more intense and frequent, scientists said.
At least seven deaths linked to the heatwave conditions were reported in France, five of them being drownings. In the UK, authorities said at least four teens had drowned since Sunday last week.
