موجة الحرارة الشتوية في أوروبا تسببت في 40 درجة مئوية، وتشير إلى 18 حياة

A heat dome over Western Europe has pushed May temperatures to 40°C, breaking long‑standing records and killing 18 people.

Record‑Breaking Temperatures

The European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel‑3 satellite captured land‑surface temperatures in excess of 30 °C across major cities like Madrid and Paris on May 26. 23 weather stations in the UK—spanning England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—recorded temperatures above the previous record of 32.8 °C set in 1922 and 1945. London’s Kew Gardens research station hit 35.1 °C, obliterating its own monthly record of 29.3 °C. In France, May 26 registered the hottest May ever, averaging 24.9 °C, and two days later, daytime highs peaked at almost 40 °C in several regions.

Human Toll and Infrastructure Gaps

At least 18 deaths have been confirmed: 11 in the UK, where two teenage boys drowned while seeking relief from the heat, and 7 in France, five of whom drowned. 2025 heat waves already claimed 14,500 deaths across more than two dozen countries, while 2024 saw 62,700 heat‑related deaths worldwide. European buildings lag behind the U.S. in cooling infrastructure—only 20 % are equipped with air conditioning versus 90 % in the U.S.—making heat‑related fatalities more likely.

Climate Change Amplification

Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index estimates that the heat dome’s impact is 3‑5 times more likely due to climate change. The Met Office and Meteo France both noted that such high temperatures have never been recorded in May since records began. The heat also disrupted the French Open, forcing top‑ranked Jannick Sinner to withdraw after a medical timeout for dehydration‑induced cramping.

The pattern is clear: a persistent heat dome, amplified by anthropogenic warming, is turning a seasonal anomaly into a deadly crisis. As temperatures climb, Europe’s limited cooling infrastructure will become a critical bottleneck. Future policy must prioritize rapid deployment of air‑conditioning and public cooling centers if the continent is to survive the next heat wave.

Source: Europe's deadly spring heatwave is obliterating temperature records
Domain: scientificamerican.com