Early spring heatwave breaks century-old records in UK and France

An exceptionally early spring heatwave has shattered temperature records across western Europe, with the UK and France experiencing unprecedented highs. On Tuesday, London's Kew Gardens recorded 35.1°C, breaking the previous day's record of 34.8°C and surpassing the long-standing record of 32.8°C set in 1922 and matched in 1944. London also experienced a rare 'tropical night' with temperatures not falling below 20°C. In France, temperatures reached 36°C in the southwest on Monday, with nighttime temperatures widely above 20°C. The national weather service Meteo-France attributed the heat to a 'heat dome' caused by a high-pressure weather front, producing temperatures more than 10°C above the seasonal average. The heatwave has led to several drownings in Britain and France as people attempted to cool off, prompting government warnings about risks to life.