Europe is facing a brutal heat wave with temperatures of 40°C, and summer hasn't even arrived yet

An unusually early and intense heat wave is gripping Europe, driven by a strong subtropical high-pressure system that is trapping hot air over the region.

London is nearing 35°C and parts of France are approaching 40°C, while hundreds of May temperature records have been broken across the continent.

The heat dome is affecting western and central Europe, with impacts reported from the Alps to the former Yugoslavia and southern Spain.

The event underscores how extreme heat is arriving earlier and lasting longer, raising risks for public health, infrastructure, and housing design.