More than 20 towns in France record highest ever May temperatures

More than 20 towns in France recorded their highest-ever May temperatures during an extreme early-summer heat event. The UK set a national heat record for May when 33.5C was measured at Heathrow near London, with temperatures up to about 35C expected later and into Tuesday. Meteo France reported that hundreds of additional May records are likely in France, Spain, and the UK, with temperatures exceeding seasonal norms by 12 or 13 degrees. The heat was attributed to a heat dome trapping hot air from Morocco under high pressure. Climate change is increasing the likelihood of June heatwaves and is showing a similar pattern for May, with warnings issued across multiple French departments.

"The UK's Met Office said the country's all-time temperature record for May was broken on Monday when a temperature of 33.5C was recorded at Heathrow near London, with highs of up to 35C expected later on Monday and on Tuesday."

"Meteo France said the record temperatures were caused by a heat dome, with hot air from Morocco trapped under an area of high pressure, adding Europe could expect such events more and more often, more and more intense, and earlier and earlier."

"Models have already estimated that, with the effects of climate breakdown, June heatwaves are now about 10 times more likely in Europe than they were in the preindustrial era, and the same trajectory is becoming visible for May."

"Eighteen French departements have been placed on high-temperature alert for Monday, authorities said, the first time the country's national heat warning system has been activated during May since it was introduced in 2004."

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