Why are temperature records being broken?

2026-05-27 13:49:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Western Europe is facing an unusual heatwave, with record temperatures hitting a number of countries, while scientists warn that climate change is making these phenomena increasingly severe and more frequent.

In the United Kingdom, temperatures topped 35 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, more than 2 degrees above the previous record set in May.

According to the British Meteorological Office, these temperatures would be considered extreme even for mid-summer, let alone spring.

France is also experiencing an unusual heat wave at the start of the season. The French weather service, Météo-France, reported record-breaking temperatures across the country. New records were also set in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

According to experts, the immediate cause of this heat wave is the phenomenon known as a "heat dome", where an area of ??high pressure hangs over the region and traps warm air near the earth's surface.

However, scientists point out that climate change caused by human activity is worsening the situation.

Over the past 30 years, Europe has warmed at a rate more than twice as fast as the global average, according to data from the Copernicus climate service.

"When a heatwave occurs in a warming climate, the effects become much more severe," said Richard Betts, a professor at the University of Exeter and head of climate research at the British Meteorological Office.

Experts warn that temperature records are being broken by ever-increasing margins. According to Professor Erich Fischer from ETH Zurich, in a stable climate records are usually broken by very small margins, but today temperatures are breaking records by several degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the heat wave is not limited to Europe. In Delhi, India, temperatures have reached up to 45 degrees Celsius, while the US has also recorded record temperatures for this time of year.

Scientists warn that unless global carbon emissions are significantly reduced, temperatures will continue to rise. According to current projections, global warming could reach close to 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

"The climate we live in today is no longer the one we grew up with. Our infrastructure and cities are not prepared for such extreme heat," said Professor Friederike Otto from Imperial College London.

Experts emphasize that only reducing greenhouse gas emissions can curb the further deterioration of the climate crisis and reduce the risk of extreme heat waves in the future./ CNA