A spring heatwave affects western Europe with temperatures significantly above seasonal norms and multiple countries issuing heat warnings. Several outlets report that the unusual warmth is driven by a “heat dome”: a persistent high-pressure system holds warm air over the region, trapping heat that typically arrives later in the summer. In the UK, the Met Office records show London’s Kew Gardens reached 35.1°C on Tuesday, breaking the May temperature record that had been set the day before at 34.8°C. This exceeds an earlier long-standing May maximum of 32.8°C recorded in 1922 and matched in 1944. Ireland also reports breaking its May maximum temperature, with stations recording 28.8°C. France experiences very warm conditions as well, with temperatures reported as reaching around 36°C in parts of the southwest on Monday and staying above 20°C overnight in some areas. Alongside the temperature records, several sources mention risks to health and life, including drownings reported in Britain and France as people try to cool down, and governments warn of heat-related dangers.