An unseasonably warm and intense summer heatwave has gripped Western Europe, with temperatures set to break May records in several places. From Portugal and Spain to France and the UK, temperatures are expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius. In southwestern Spain, temperatures are expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius, while cities such as Paris and London could see temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius.
Meteorologists say the phenomenon is being caused by a so-called “heat dome”, where hot air from Morocco is trapped by a powerful anticyclone.
Experts warn that climate change is making these extreme events more frequent and intense, occurring earlier and earlier in the year. British authorities have issued health warnings, while citizens have been urged to be careful, after a tragic event in Spain where a child lost his life as a result of high temperatures. The global warming phenomenon has caused temperatures to break century-old records in recent years, causing massive fires mainly in southern Europe, while extreme phenomena have become more frequent.