EU monitor: Record May temperatures signal 'new normal'

Europe experienced one of its hottest Mays on record in 2026, with several countries including Britain, France, Ireland, and Portugal breaking their own temperature records. A 'heat dome' of warm air from northern Africa pushed temperatures significantly above normal levels across western Europe. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service warned that these extreme heat events are rapidly becoming the 'new normal' rather than the exception.

Globally, May's average surface air temperature was the second-highest on record, surpassed only by May 2024. Sea surface temperatures also reached their second-highest level, indicating a shift towards the warming El Niño weather pattern. Forecasters predict that the upcoming El Niño could be one of the strongest on record, potentially pushing global temperatures to historic highs and increasing the risk of extreme weather events. The rapid transition to high temperatures likely intensified impacts on populations, crops, and ecosystems, leaving little time for adaptation.