The United Kingdom broke a 100-year-old temperature record for the second consecutive day during an ongoing spring heatwave in Western Europe, prompting government alerts about potential life-threatening situations. London’s Kew Gardens and Heathrow Airport registered a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous day’s record of 34.8 degrees Celsius at Kew. These provisional figures exceeded the longstanding record of 32.8 degrees Celsius set in 1922 and equaled in 1944. London experienced a rare “tropical night,” where temperatures did not drop below 20 degrees Celsius.
France also witnessed record-breaking temperatures, with the mercury hitting 36 degrees Celsius in the country’s southwest on Monday and remaining above 20 degrees Celsius during the night. Tragic drownings were reported in both Britain and France as individuals sought relief from the heat.
The national weather service in France, Meteo-France, attributed the high temperatures to a “heat dome,” caused by a high-pressure weather system, resulting in temperatures more than 10 degrees higher than the usual for this time of year.
Experts warn that unpredictable and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to global warming. Peter Thorne, the director of the ICARUS Climate Research Centre at Maynooth University in Ireland, emphasized the influence of climate change on the severity and frequency of heatwaves like the current one in the UK and France.
Following a weekend where many flocked to beaches and parks to escape the heat, London commuters endured sweltering conditions on Tuesday as subway carriages lacked air conditioning. In Scotland, firefighters battled a grass fire on Arthur’s Seat, overlooking Edinburgh.
Authorities in the UK issued an amber health alert for several regions, cautioning about health risks, especially for the elderly, during peak temperatures. The lack of air conditioning in many homes, schools, and businesses in the UK poses challenges during such extreme heatwaves.
Tragically, multiple drowning incidents were reported in the UK and France, highlighting the dangers of the unseasonably high temperatures. The heatwave has struck ahead of the usual summer period when lifeguards monitor beaches, heightening risks for swimmers.
The heatwave also affected Spain, with temperatures resembling midsummer levels in May. Seville saw temperatures reach 38 degrees Celsius over the weekend, while other parts of the Iberian Peninsula experienced temperatures significantly above normal. In Rome, temperatures were forecasted to hit 32 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.