ROME: Italy issued a red alert warning for the capital Rome on Thursday and Portugal and France reported their hottest days in May as Europe struggled with a heatwave that has smashed records across the continent. Britain and France have already reported their hottest-ever May days this week as a “heat dome” brought sweltering temperatures usually unseen until high summer to western Europe.

The UK’s Met Office said Monday was the hottest May day on record, with the mercury hitting 33.5C at Heathrow near London by 1pm.

Heat dome over Europe scorches UK, Ireland, France and Spain