May 2026 was one of the hottest months on record in Europe

Last month, a number of Western European countries broke temperature records amid an unusually early heat wave caused by a "heat dome" from North Africa. 

Particularly high temperatures were recorded in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Portugal, and in some regions, the heat index reached 35–40 degrees Celsius. 

According to a bulletin from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, May 2026 was the second-warmest on record globally, with an average global air temperature of 15.81°C. Experts emphasize that such intense and early heat waves are gradually becoming the new climate norm, posing risks to the population, agriculture, and ecosystems. Scientists link these changes to the development of the El Niño phenomenon, with an 80% probability of its formation in the coming months, which could contribute to new temperature records in the coming years.