Europe has been hit by an exceptional May heatwave, with temperature records falling across multiple countries under a persistent heat dome. The United Kingdom set a new May maximum temperature record on Tuesday, reaching 35.1°C at Kew Gardens in London, breaking the previous record of 34.8°C set just a day earlier. The former May record of 32.8°C had stood since 1922 and was matched in 1944.
Ireland also broke its May maximum temperature record, with 28.8°C recorded at weather stations in Killarney and Clonmel. Overnight temperatures have also been at record highs; Camborne in south-west England dropped only to 21.4°C, marking a tropical night where temperatures remained above 20°C.
France saw temperatures of 36°C on Monday and Tuesday, the hottest May days on record. A French government spokesperson confirmed that the heat had directly or indirectly caused seven deaths this week. Across parts of Europe, temperatures have been 10–15°C above average for this time of year.
Temperatures are expected to remain 5–10°C above average through the rest of the week but will gradually moderate for the UK into next week, according to weather authorities.
Meanwhile, severe thunderstorm warnings have been in effect across south-eastern and eastern Australia this week, with warnings continuing into Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and hail, with flash flood warnings also in place. Dayboro in Queensland recorded 50mm of rain within 30 minutes, while Narrabri in New South Wales recorded a wind gust of 104 km/h on Wednesday.
The Bureau has said that six-hourly rainfall totals could reach 40–70mm, with locally up to 100mm possible for the Mid North Coast, Upper Hunter, and adjacent districts in New South Wales by the end of the week.
