‘Mind-bogglingly crazy’: #Europe’s deadly, early #heatwave is smashing records

There have been “seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to the heat, including at least five from drowning, as well as deaths related to extreme heat during sports events,” Maud Bregeon, a French government spokesperson, told French TV network TF1.

By Laura Paddison, CNN
Published May 27, 2026

"Temperature records are being smashed across Europe as parts of the continent swelter in a heat wave that is bringing extreme temperatures alarmingly early in the year.

"The continent is grappling with a powerful heat dome, a persistent high-pressure system which acts like a lid on a pot, trapping hot air and pushing it downward. It can remain in place for days or even weeks and is a weather phenomenon made more likely and more intense by human-caused climate change.

"On Monday, the UK endured its hottest May day on record, with temperatures spiking to 34.8 degrees Celsius (94.6 Fahrenheit) at #KewGardens in London, breaking the previous record by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). Usually heat records are broken by only fractions of a degree.

"Then, on Tuesday, the record was broken again, as temperatures soared to 35 degrees (95 Fahrenheit). The average high temperature for London in late May is around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

"As the heat climbed Monday, a wildfire broke out near #ArthursSeat, a hill in #EdinburghScotland, and hundreds of properties in southeast England were left without #water as demand spiked.

"There was little respite overnight for the UK, which experienced a 'tropical night' where temperatures didn’t fall below 20 degrees (68 Fahrenheit).

"These temperatures may not sound extreme but are very uncomfortable — even dangerous — in the UK, where most houses are not insulated well enough to keep out heat and only around 5% of homes have air conditioning. A report last week from the UK’s Climate Change Committee warned the UK was 'built for a climate that no longer exists.' "

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/mind-bogglingly-crazy-europes-deadly-early-heatwave-is-smashing-records/1895293

#ClimateChange #ClimateDiaryEurope #HeatDome #ExtremeHeat #ClimateDiaryUK

Big yellow ball of death…

https://trig666.wordpress.com/2026/05/25/big-yellow-ball-of-death/

Heatstroke casualties in Japan's workplaces hit a fresh record-high last year -- more than triple the number from the year before -- amid extreme summer heat:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260527/p2g/00m/0na/052000c

#ClimateCrisis #ClimateBreakdown #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #Heatwave #Japan #KokushoBi

Fears for youth who vanished in Kent lake ‘swimming with friends’

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/27/fears-youth-vanished-lake-swimming-friends-28544826/

Seven people have died in France as record heat affected western Europe this May. #heatwave

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/26/deaths-france-linked-record-high-temperatures

“The science is clear that human-induced climate change is making these heatwaves more frequent and extreme (…). Protecting human lives, businesses and economies from extreme heat and the many other soaring costs of climate change is core business for every nation, and it starts with kicking the fossil fuel addiction much faster.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/27/extreme-heat-in-europe-a-brutal-reminder-of-climate-crisis-un-chief-says

#ClimateCrisis #ClimateBreakdown #ClimateChange #Heatwave #ExtremeWeather

✏️ I think we've peaked ☀️

https://www.macpsych.blog/posts/i-think-weve-peaked

#blogging #heatwave