France Reports Seven Heat

Seven individuals have died in France due to an early-summer heat event, with five deaths attributed to drowning and two occurring during sporting events. This follows record-high temperatures observed across France and the UK in May, with forecasts indicating further temperature increases.

France's national average temperature reached 24.4C on Monday, May 29, 2023, surpassing the previous May record of 23.7C set in 1944. The highest individual reading was 37.1C near Hossegor. The UK also experienced its hottest May day on record, with temperatures reaching 34.8C in Kew Gardens. This event marks the first activation of France's national heat warning system in May since its 2004 inception, with eight of 96 administrative departments placed on an orange high-temperature alert.

The extreme heat, described as a "premature, remarkable and long" episode, is attributed to a heat dome trapping hot air from Morocco under high pressure. This phenomenon has led to temperatures exceeding norms by 12C to 13C in affected regions. Experts indicate that such events are becoming more frequent, earlier, and more intense due to climate change, with June heatwaves now approximately 10 times more likely in Europe than in the pre-industrial era.