European governments enact work restrictions as unseasonal heatwave claims lives
Authorities from Paris to Rome have introduced labour protections as a 'heat dome' drives temperatures to unprecedented levels for May, with scientists linking the surge to human-driven climate change.
Large swathes of Europe are grappling with extreme temperatures driven by a 'heat dome', prompting urgent health warnings and the imposition of work restrictions across multiple nations. The unseasonal heat, attributed to a high-pressure system trapping warm air from northern Africa, has disrupted seasonal norms and forced governments to activate emergency protocols. Météo-France confirmed that Monday marked the hottest May day on record for France, with forecasts indicating that temperatures would remain elevated until the end of the week.
The human cost of the heatwave has already begun to mount. In France, civil defence services reported that a man died during a 10-kilometre running race in Paris on Sunday. Ten additional participants required hospitalisation in critical condition following a separate race in the suburb of Maisons-Alfort. The capital had previously recorded its first temperature above 30C of the year on Saturday, hitting 31.9C, while the sweltering conditions at the Roland Garros tennis stadium melted fans and disrupted events.
In response to the escalating crisis, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to hold a meeting with key ministers on Thursday to review government preparations. The French weather agency, Météo-France, warned that highs of 33C to 36C are expected in various regions, reinforcing the need for coordinated state action as the heat persists.
The United Kingdom also logged unprecedented highs, with the Met Office confirming that Monday was the hottest May day on record. Temperatures reached 34.8C at Kew Gardens in London, exceeding the previous high by two degrees. The agency described the conditions as exceptional even for mid-summer, noting that the weather is "like a mini version of hell." Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst stated that the increase in extreme temperatures was "a good indication of climate change in action" and more likely to become "the new norm."
Southern European nations have moved to implement structural safeguards. Italy’s Lazio region, which includes Rome, approved rules on Monday limiting outdoor work between 12:30pm and 4:00pm for sectors such as construction, farming and logistics. These measures, which apply until 15 September, are stricter than those enacted last year, which only began on 30 May. Similarly, Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warned of temperatures peaking between 36C and 38C from Wednesday to Friday, with widespread tropical nights forecast in the southwest.
Scientific bodies attribute the increasing frequency and severity of such events to human-driven climate change, noting that Europe is warming faster than the global average. The Met Office forecast a drop in temperatures later in the week, but climate advisers have previously warned the UK government that infrastructure must adapt to a warming planet. Meanwhile, Ireland recorded a record May temperature of 28.8C, and a grass fire near Edinburgh sent smoke over the Scottish city as temperatures climbed to 25C.
