Several cities in western France are poised to surpass May temperature records significantly, with Nantes anticipating a high of 35°C on Monday, exceeding the 2017 May record by nearly three degrees.
The UK’s meteorological agency has issued warnings of “a notable heatwave” with temperatures soaring up to 33°C on Monday, which would set new May temperature records in the country, while Belgium is expecting highs of up to 31°C.
A “heat dome,” as identified by France’s Météo-France weather agency, is causing the elevated temperatures. Warm air originating from Northern Africa is trapped beneath a high-pressure system over Western Europe, acting like a lid on a pot, forcing the hot air down and creating sustained, intense heat in the affected regions.
Météo-France attributes the increasing frequency of such phenomena to climate change, predicting these heatwaves will become more frequent, occurring earlier and intensifying.
The UK has issued heat health alerts across parts of England until Wednesday, including an amber warning for London about “significant impacts” on health and social care services, and an anticipated increase in fatalities among the elderly and infirm. Spain has issued yellow heat warnings in parts of its northern region for Monday.
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