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France, UK swelter as first‑ever May heatwave alert issued

France, UK swelter as first‑ever May heatwave alert issued

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The United Kingdom experienced record‑breaking May temperatures, with several locations exceeding 32.8 °C, while France also broke its May record at 33.5 °C. A heat dome trapped warm air under a high‑pressure system, making this the hottest May day on record and prompting health alerts—including warnings of thunderstorms and increased risk to vulnerable populations.

Maud Bregeon
Renaissance
1. What I can say today is that there have been seven deaths directly or indirectly related to the heat.
Meteo France
1. Towns in the west of the country are likely to see temperatures several degrees higher than ever recorded in May.
Met Office
1. This heat would have been exceptional in the UK even in the height of summer.
2. Records are usually only broken by tenths of a degree — making this heatwave unprecedented for the time of year.
3. Temperatures at Heathrow have recently reached 33.5C, provisionally beating the all-time May record.
4. This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone May.
Stephen Dixon
Met Office
1. What was around a 1-in-100 year event is now around a 1-in-33 year event.
2. While we do occasionally have warm spells in May, what we're seeing now is unprecedented.
Stephanie Rist
French Ministry of Health
1. This heat is going to continue for at least the coming 48 hours. The important thing is to adapt, to follow the preventative measures.
Gareth Redmond-King
Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit
1. The Climate Change Committee was clear last week that alongside cutting emissions to net zero, adapting to our already warmed climate is far less costly than dealing with its ever more dangerous impacts.
2. Scientists are clear that cutting those emissions to net zero is the only way to halt climate change and limit the danger. But we also know we've got more extreme heat coming this year if, as expected, El Niño joins forces with climate change to break more heat records.
Rubén Del Campo
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
1. The other really notable thing is that the situation is going to last until at least the end of the week. In fact, it could get even hotter on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures of at least 34 degrees across most of the country.
Peter Thorne
University of Maynooth
1. But nevertheless many of the records being set, particularly in the UK and France, are mind-bogglingly crazy.
2. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heat wave events such as this have been made more likely and more severe due to climate change.

France, UK swelter as first‑ever May heatwave alert issued

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