Europe Heat Dome: Record May Temperatures Scorch UK, France, Italy, Spain

A heat dome over western Europe has brought record-breaking May temperatures to the UK and France, with the UK's Met Office recording 33.5°C at Heathrow on Monday, the hottest May day on record. The heatwave, caused by warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system, is expected to persist throughout the week. Spain anticipates peaks of 38°C later in the week, while parts of Italy have imposed restrictions on outdoor work. The previous UK May record of 32.2°C from 1922 and 1944 was surpassed by 1.3°C. Visitors and residents in London, where average May temperatures are 17-18°C, described the heat as extreme, with one calling it a "mini version of hell" and another attributing it to climate change.