A heat dome has settled over much of Europe, turning the last days of May into a preview of August. Spain's state weather agency AEMET reports temperatures of 38°C in Badajoz and near 40°C in the south, an anomaly of 15°C above normal for this time of year. The heat is concentrated in the southwestern quadrant, the Ebro valley, and unusually, the northern coast.
At Santander Airport, records dating to 1954 show only two days with temperatures above 30°C before June. This year, there have already been six. In Badajoz, temperatures above 38°C have never been recorded in May until now. Bilbao is approaching its highest-ever May temperature. Forecasts call for 36°C in Madrid, 38°C in Seville, and 39°C in Zaragoza and Lleida by Friday.
This anticyclonic ridge acts like a lid, compressing and heating the air. The most dangerous aspect: tropical nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, preventing the body from recovering and increasing heat stress, especially for the elderly and those with chronic conditions.
The event is not limited to Spain. The UK broke its May record with 35.1°C at Kew Gardens. France placed several departments on orange alert for the first time in May, and two people died while exercising in Paris and Lyon. Italy also reported record May temperatures.
Climate scientists say such June heatwaves are now ten times more likely than in pre-industrial times, and the same pattern is emerging for May.