France and the United Kingdom are currently being affected by a heat dome, driving up temperatures in western Europe. Although the phenomenon is common, it is now being exacerbated by climate change. It’s the same mechanism that has been affecting India for weeks, with temperatures exceeding 45°C in some places, and has led to wildfires in Canada in 2021.

“What we used to call a July phenomenon is now arriving in mid-May", according to one weather forecaster.

Temperatures hit record highs for May in the United Kingdom and France on Monday, as forecasters warned of a prolonged period of extreme heat across Europe throughout the week.