LONDON (AP) — A suffocating heat dome has settled over much of western Europe this week, sending temperatures climbing above 40 degrees Celsius — that’s 104 degrees Fahrenheit — across numerous locations.
What makes this event particularly notable is that it’s happening in June, well ahead of the traditional peak of summer. Both daytime highs and overnight lows are shattering previous records. High humidity levels are adding a tropical feel to a region normally known for its mild, temperate climate.
The scorching air is originating in north Africa, pushing northward through Spain and France before reaching countries like the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands — nations that simply aren’t built or prepared for this level of heat.
Forecasters say conditions should ease slightly in the days ahead, but not before more records potentially fall. And with July and August — historically Europe’s hottest months — still on the calendar, this could be just the beginning.
Here’s a look at the key numbers telling the story of this extraordinary heat event:
23.5 — High humidity is making the heat especially miserable by preventing the body from cooling itself through sweating. This is a serious overnight problem in countries like the U.K., where air conditioning is uncommon. The Met Office, the U.K.’s national weather agency, confirmed that the country’s highest June overnight low temperature of 23.5 C (73.4 F) was recorded at Bute Park in Cardiff. In England, temperatures in Plymouth only dipped to 23.0 C (73.4 F), provisionally setting a new English record for the warmest June night.
26.2 — Germany experienced even more stifling overnight heat, tying its record for the warmest night on record. The German Weather Service reported that temperatures in Bad Bergzabern, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in western Germany, never dropped below 26.2 C. That matches a record set back in July 2019.
30 — France has arguably suffered the most, with three-quarters of the country under a red alert through at least Friday. On Wednesday, France logged its hottest day in recorded history. The Meteo France weather agency reported that the national thermal indicator — an average drawn from 30 weather stations across the country — reached 30 C (86 F) for the very first time. That mark could fall again on Thursday, with forecasters predicting highs of 40 to 42 C (104 to 108 F) in several areas.
31 — Formula 1 officials have designated the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix a “heat hazard,” with temperatures expected to exceed 31 C (87.8 F) on race day Sunday. That threshold triggers a requirement for drivers to carry additional cooling equipment. It will mark the first time these regulations — introduced just one year ago — have been applied to a European F1 race.
36.1 — The United Kingdom set a new record for its hottest June day, with 36.1 C (96.9 F) measured at Gosport in southern England. That record is widely expected to be surpassed in the coming days, as the Met Office has expanded its red heat alert to cover much of central and southern England, as well as Wales.
43.7 — Spain, along with perhaps Greece, is one of Europe’s most heat-hardened nations. Yet even Spain is feeling the strain. An all-time national record of 43.7 C (110 F) was recorded earlier this week in the village of Tama, located in the Cantabrian region — an area typically known for its cooler temperatures and lush, green scenery along the Atlantic coast.
1887 — Ireland’s all-time temperature record could come under threat on Thursday, according to Met Éireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy. The Republic of Ireland’s hottest temperature ever recorded was 33.3 C (91.9 F), set at Kilkenny Castle on June 26, 1887.
