An exceptionally early heatwave has shattered temperature records and led to several deaths across Western Europe, as firefighters battled a grass fire in Edinburgh and authorities issued health warnings.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
London experienced a rare "tropical night," where the temperature did not fall below 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). The Met Office predicted that southern England could reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. Monday was the UK's hottest May day on record, with a temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens in London, surpassing the previous record of 32.8 degrees Celsius set in 1922 and 1944.
Deaths and Drownings
A 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in a reservoir in Halifax, northern England, on Monday. In France, government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon reported at least seven deaths potentially linked to the high temperatures, including five drownings and two deaths during sports competitions. On France's Atlantic coast, two drowning deaths occurred on Sunday at popular resorts in the Gironde region. The top regional administrator, Sophie Brocas, urged beachgoers "to exercise the utmost caution."
Health Alerts and Infrastructure Strain
The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber health alert for much of the country through Wednesday morning, warning of potential health risks, especially for the elderly during the hottest parts of the day. Many homes, schools, and businesses in the UK lack air conditioning, exacerbating the danger. London commuters endured sweltering conditions in unairconditioned subway carriages, and trains at Waterloo station were disrupted by a report of smoke on the tracks.
Fire in Edinburgh
Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish a grass fire on Arthur's Seat, the rocky hill overlooking Edinburgh, which sent plumes of smoke into the sky.
Experts note that unpredictable and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent as global warming intensifies, posing increased risks to populations.
John Leicester in Paris contributed to this story.
