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European meteorologists issued warnings on Tuesday regarding extraordinary heatwaves, as a "heat dome" drives temperatures far past typical seasonal averages across the continent.
This follows a record-setting Monday, during which France registered its warmest May day in history and the United Kingdom similarly reported unprecedented temperature highs.
A so-called "heat dome" of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the high temperatures not usually seen until high summer.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying such extremes, with Europe warming faster than the global average and heatwaves growing more frequent and severe.
It is making extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts and floods more intense, resulting in temperature records being broken more frequently.
Restrictions on outdoor work were imposed in parts of Italy, beaches in southwest France filled earlier than usual and farmers reported accelerated harvests as temperatures went beyond 30 degrees Celsius across the region.
Temperatures in Spain were expected to peak later this week at 38 degrees Celsius, while parts of Italy imposed restrictions on working outdoors.
According to the Met Office weather agency, a new U.K. daily temperature record for spring and May has been provisionally broken, with 34.8 degrees Celsius reached at Kew Gardens today.
It reported that the figure is the highest daily maximum temperature recorded in meteorological spring (March, April and May), as well as the highest temperature in May.
"This heat would be exceptional in the U.K. even in mid-summer, let alone May," it said on X.
The Met Office, however, forecast a drop later in the week.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst told Agence France-Presse (AFP) the increase in extreme temperatures was "a good indication of climate change in action" and more likely to become "the new norm." It has, however, forecast a drop later in the week.
In 2022, temperatures in the U.K. soared above 40 degrees Celsius for the first time since records began.
According to French weather agency Meteo-France, for France as a whole, "Monday was the hottest day recorded for the month of May since measurements began."
It said highs of 33 degrees Celsius to 36 degrees Celsius in regions were expected, adding that the spell was likely to last at least until the end of the week.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was to hold a meeting Thursday with key ministers to go over government preparations for the heatwave as the capital, Paris, notched up its first temperature above 30 degrees Celsius of the year on Saturday, hitting 31.9 degrees Celsius.
On the next day, a man died during a 10-kilometer running race in Paris, civil defense services said, while 10 more had to be taken to the hospital in critical condition after a race in the capital's suburb of Maisons-Alfort, the authorities said.
The sweltering heat also melted tennis fans at Roland-Garros in Paris on Monday.
In Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warned the "extraordinarily high temperatures for this time of year" will continue across the country all week, except in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa.
"Widespread tropical nights" are also forecast in southwestern Spain from Wednesday, with temperatures peaking from Wednesday to Friday at between 36 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius, it wrote on X.
As for Italy's Lazio region which includes Rome, new regulations were instituted on Monday restricting outdoor labor under direct sunlight between 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Effective until Sept. 15, these restrictions impact industries like agriculture, construction, and logistics. While comparable safety measures were introduced last year, this year's implementation comes earlier than the previous May 30 start date.
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