Portugal has set a new record for the hottest May day with 40.3C measured in the central town of Mora, surpassing the previous record of 40C set in May 2001. This comes as western Europe faces extreme heat conditions.

Heatwave Impacts Across Europe

Ministers in France are meeting to assess the country’s readiness for the ongoing heatwaves, while tennis world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the French Open due to the harsh weather. Italian authorities have issued a red heatwave alert for Rome, where temperatures could reach 32C on Thursday.

The heatwave is expected to persist into the weekend, with Germany, Spain, and Switzerland also experiencing unusually high temperatures. In Portugal. Parts of the country will see temperatures above 35C on Thursday and Friday, before the heat begins to subside, according to the national meteorological office.

France’s Response to Heatwave

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired a ministerial meeting on Thursday to develop a readiness plan for extreme heat events — the plan includes measures to combat forest fires and ensure sufficient water supply during the summer months.

Baccalaureate exams. The French equivalent of A-levels. Will continue despite the heat. Although some schools have had to close due to uncomfortable indoor temperatures. A primary school in Souston. In the Landes region. Will remain closed on Thursday and Friday after reaching 53C inside earlier in the week, a local official told French media.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray told BFMTV that exam centers can choose rooms with the most shade, and that exams will proceed as scheduled because students are prepared and there is an expected timeline for results. However, the decision has drawn criticism from education unions and teachers, with one teacher reporting that they have been forced to bring in fans to cool classrooms.

A survey by France’s secondary school union found that nearly 78% of schools recorded temperatures above 30C this week. The union also reported that teachers have resorted to using screwdrivers to open windows due to the intense heat.

Seventeen departments in France, including Paris and areas in the north-west, are under an orange alert, indicating the need for heightened vigilance. Temperatures in Paris are expected to reach 33C on Thursday and 34C on both Saturday and Sunday.

Police have announced traffic measures in Paris to ease congestion, including restricting roads to lower-emission vehicles and lowering speed limits. A single fare for the entire public transport network will also be offered during this period.

Heatwave’s Impact on Public Health and Events

At the French Open, Jannik Sinner withdrew from a match after experiencing dizziness and fatigue. He later said, ‘It was a tough spot to be in,’ but clarified that the issue was not related to the heat, but rather personal performance. ‘It was just me today, but it happens,’ he added.

Italy has issued a red alert in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Brescia, and Turin, marking the first of the year and warning of potential health risks for healthy individuals. Temperatures in Madrid are expected to reach 35C over the weekend, with Spain’s meteorological office noting that the heat resembles conditions typically seen in July and August.

Scientists attribute the heatwave to a ‘heat dome’—a high-pressure system that traps warm air underneath. While linking individual extreme weather events to climate change is complex, scientists agree that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Over the last 30 years, Europe has warmed by 0.56C per decade, according to the Copernicus climate service, making heat extremes significantly more severe.

The UN warned that global average temperatures will remain at or near record levels for the next four years. The 11 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2015, and the UN’s weather and climate agency predicts this trend will continue, with a new hottest-ever year ‘likely’ before 2031.