Share Source: The Guardian
This week, Europe experienced exceptional heat: temperature records were broken in many countries under a persistent high-pressure system, commonly referred to as a “heat dome.”
Key Takeaways:
- Record temperatures were recorded in numerous European nations during the May heatwave.
- London’s May temperature record was surpassed, reaching 35.1°C.
- Records for both maximum and minimum May temperatures were also broken across various European countries.
May 2026 Temperature Records in Europe
On May 26th, the UK broke its all-time May maximum temperature record, with 35.1°C registered at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. This surpassed the record set just the day before, when London recorded 34.8°C on Monday.
Previously, the highest May temperature recorded was 32.8°C, set in 1922 and matched in 1944.
Ireland also saw its May maximum temperature record fall, with 28.8°C noted at two weather stations: Killarney in the southwest and Clonmel in the south.
It wasn’t just daytime highs that shattered records; nighttime minimums also reached unprecedented levels. On Tuesday night, Camborne in southwest England saw temperatures dip to only 21.4°C, marking another tropical night where temperatures remained above 20°C.
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Similarly, France experienced highs of 36°C on Monday and Tuesday, making them the hottest May days ever recorded. A French government spokesperson stated that this week’s heatwave had led to seven direct or indirect fatalities.
Significantly, temperatures in some parts of Europe are approximately 10-15°C above the average for this time of year.
Temperatures are expected to remain 5-10°C above average for the rest of this week, but will gradually begin to decrease in the UK next week.