Western Europe is bracing for its first significant heat event of the summer, with temperatures forecast to soar more than 10°C above the norm. New monthly records for May are expected to be set in possibly hundreds of locations across Portugal, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.
Scorching Temperatures Across the Region
On Friday and into next week, temperatures across Portugal, Spain, France, and the UK are expected to exceed 30°C (86°F). Paris and London could reach 32°C, while south-west France may see 35°C. In Spain, the Guadiana and Guadalquivir regions could experience highs of up to 38°C. The UK Met Office has issued 'extraordinary' heat health alerts for the weekend, with local temperatures possibly reaching 33°C on Monday, surpassing the current May record of 32.8°C set in 1944.
France Braces for Unprecedented Heat
Météo-France has warned that both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to reach unprecedented levels for the season, particularly in the south-west. The national forecaster stated that records are almost certain to be set for the highest May temperature in France (30.5°C in 2025) and the highest average daily temperature in May (22.8°C in 2017). The exceptional heat, which may exceed previous records by three or four degrees in cities like Nantes and Brest, is attributed to a heat dome trapping hot air from Morocco under a powerful anticyclone.
Météo-France highlighted that the temperatures expected in Brittany are 'quite remarkable so early in the pre-summer season' and likely to surpass existing records by three or more degrees. The agency noted that climate breakdown means Europe, the fastest-warming continent, can expect such extreme heat events 'more and more often, more prematurely, and with greater intensity.'
UK and Spain: Heatwaves and Tragedies
Parts of the UK could enter a heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 26°C to 28°C for three consecutive days, depending on location. However, a heatwave declaration is unlikely in France, where night-time temperatures must also remain above a certain threshold, or in Spain, where temperatures would need to reach high summer levels. In Spain, temperatures already hit 38°C on Thursday, and a tragic incident occurred in the north-western region of Galicia, where a two-year-old girl died after being accidentally left in her father's car for hours.
The Spanish state meteorological office, Aemet, expects the hot spell to persist well into next week, potentially bringing record May temperatures. Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo described the weather as 'full-on summer heat,' with temperatures 5°C to 10°C above the seasonal average, and up to 10°C above average in northern regions. 'These are the kind of temperatures we normally see in July and August,' he added.
