Early Heat Wave Claims Seven Lives in France as Temperatures Shatter Records
An unusually intense early-summer heat wave sweeping across Western Europe has been linked to seven deaths in France, officials confirmed Monday. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon told TF1 television that five of those fatalities were drownings, as people flocked to beaches and rivers to escape the heat—often without lifeguard supervision, which typically doesn't begin until July.
Météo France reported that Monday was the hottest May day ever recorded in the country, with a national average temperature of 24.4°C across 30 weather stations. The previous record, set in 1944, was 23.7°C. The highest reading—37.1°C—was logged near Hossegor in the southwestern Landes region. Temperatures in western France were expected to exceed 36°C on Tuesday.
The UK also set a new May record, with 34.8°C measured at Kew Gardens in southwest London. The Met Office called the reading “exceptional even in mid-summer, let alone May.” In Spain, the state weather service Aemet forecast highs of 36–38°C in several river valleys, with some areas possibly reaching 40°C through Friday.
Italy’s Lazio region, including Rome, banned outdoor work between 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. for jobs involving prolonged sun exposure, such as farming and construction.
Eight of France’s 96 administrative departments are under an orange heat alert—the second-highest level—while 20 more are on yellow warning. It’s the first time the national heat warning system has been activated in May since it began in 2004.
Climate scientist Christophe Cassou told Le Monde the event was “unprecedented” and would have been “virtually impossible in the pre-industrial era.” Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called a meeting of key ministers to review heatwave preparedness.
Two deaths were directly attributed to the heat: a woman competing in a fitness competition in Lyon died of hyperthermia, and a 53-year-old man suffered a fatal heart attack during a 10-kilometer race in Paris. Sixteen others were hospitalized—10 in critical condition—after a road race in the Paris suburb of Maisons-Alfort.
Météo France described the episode as a “heat dome” trapping hot air from Morocco under high pressure, warning that such events will “occur more often, earlier, and be more intense” as the climate changes.