Portugal Records 40.3C in Mora, Breaking Hottest May Day Record
Portugal has established a new record for its hottest May day, with a temperature of 40.3C recorded in the central town of Mora. This figure surpasses the previous May record of 40C, set in 2001.
The current heatwave continues to affect Western Europe, prompting French ministers to convene a meeting to assess national readiness for extreme heat events. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired discussions on Thursday afternoon, focusing on strategies for combating forest fires and ensuring adequate water supplies throughout the summer period.
Despite some schools closing due to extreme internal temperatures, Baccalaureate examinations in France will proceed. A primary school in Souston, Landes region, remains shut after internal temperatures reached 53C earlier in the week. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that exam centres would utilise shaded rooms to accommodate students, citing preparation and result schedules as reasons for continuing.
In Italy, authorities have issued a red heatwave alert for Rome, Florence, Bologna, Brescia, and Turin, warning of potential negative health impacts. Temperatures in Rome are projected to reach 32C on Thursday, with Madrid expecting 35C over the weekend. The Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner withdrew from the French Open, citing dizziness and lethargy attributed to the heat.
The immediate cause of the persistent heat is a 'heat dome' – a high-pressure system that traps warm air. While individual weather events are difficult to link directly to climate change, scientists indicate that climate change contributes to the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Europe has experienced a warming trend of 0.56C per decade over the past 30 years, according to the Copernicus climate service.
The UN warned on Thursday that global average temperatures are likely to persist at or near record levels for the next five years, with a new hottest-ever year 'likely' before 2031. The eleven hottest years on record have all occurred since 2015.
