UK Met Office

Firefighters in southwest France are battling a massive blaze four times the size of Paris amid extreme temperatures exceeding 40°C, displacing 220,000 people. Similar wildfires and heatwaves in Spain and the UK have led to widespread evacuations, with Spain preparing for its fourth heatwave of the summer.

The UK Met Office issued red heat warnings for three consecutive days in south-east England, a first, as Paris bans public alcohol consumption due to hospitals reaching saturation. Scientists attribute the European heatwave to the climate crisis, calling it the worst on record.

Western Europe experienced an 'exceptional' early heatwave in May 2026, with temperatures reaching 35.1C in the UK, 36C in France, and 40.3C in Portugal. The White House proposed regulations allowing political appointees to control climate research funding, while the US National Science Federation announced dismantling a $368m deep-sea observation system. The WMO and UK Met Office warned global temperatures could reach 1.3-1.9C above pre-industrial levels by 2030.

An exceptionally early heat wave in May 2026 shattered temperature records across Western Europe, causing at least eight deaths, including drownings and sports-related incidents. The UK recorded its hottest May day at 34.8°C, triggering health alerts, while fires and disrupted transportation exacerbated the crisis.