Temperatures reach 39°C in Seville as late-May heatwave grips Western Europe

Intense Heatwave Grips Seville

Temperatures in Seville reached 39 degrees Celsius on Wednesday as Western Europe sweltered through an unusually intense late-May heatwave. Footage shows locals and tourists walking under umbrellas and cooling off with fans and cold drinks in the blazing sun.

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency described the spell as ‘pleno verano’, or full summer, with temperatures several degrees above normal for late May. “Well, the truth is that with this heat, the advice I give is to go to the beach in tank tops instead, because of the month we are in and the heat we are having. Well, honestly, it is not normal,” a local man said.

Atmospheric Drivers and Regional Scope

Meteorologists linked the heat to a high-pressure system over western Europe, which trapped hot, dry air and limited cloud cover and cooling winds. The heat extended beyond Spain.

France recorded exceptional May temperatures, with some areas reaching around 39 degrees Celsius and parts of the country more than 10 degrees above seasonal norms.

Record-Breaking Temperatures in the UK

The UK provisionally broke its May temperature record twice in two days. Kew Gardens reached 34.8°C on Monday, before recording 35.1°C on Tuesday, while Heathrow reached 35°C.

Climate scientists say the episode reflects a wider pattern of heatwaves arriving earlier and becoming more intense across Europe. The World Meteorological Organization has identified Europe as the fastest-warming continent, with extreme heat becoming more frequent as the planet warms.

Article by Viory