Parts of Europe are enduring an unusual and intense heatwave that shattered temperature records in Britain and France this week, highlighting scientists' warnings of increasingly hot summers.

On Wednesday (May 27), tourists in major European cities such as Paris and Rome expressed mixed reactions to the heat, with many continuing to visit landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum despite discomfort. In tourist hotspots, thermometers exposed to direct sunlight recorded temperatures as high as 42 degrees Celsius, though official measures were slightly lower. A UK tourist in Rome described the heat as "a struggle."

Italy experienced the brunt of the heatwave on Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding 34 to 35 degrees Celsius in several northern and central cities. The Health Ministry issued an "orange" alert for 16 cities, warning of potential health risks for vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Relief may arrive on Thursday (May 28), with possible thunderstorms expected to lower temperatures, though cities like Turin, Bologna, Florence, and Rome are set to remain on the highest heatwave alert.

In Britain, the Met Office confirmed Monday (May 25) as the hottest May day on record, with temperatures nearly reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). France recorded its hottest May day in history on Tuesday (May 26), according to the national weather service, with Junior Energy Minister Maud Bregeon announcing that seven people had died as a result of the heatwave.

Meteorologists attribute the extreme conditions to a "stalled high," a stationary high-pressure system that traps heat in one location. Forecasters expect the heatwave to persist in parts of Europe in the coming days, despite summer's meteorological start scheduled for next Monday.

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SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 27, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. EIFFEL TOWER WITH SUN FLASH

2. VARIOUS OF FOUNTAINS IN FRONT OF EIFFEL TOWER

3. PEOPLE WALKING

4. THERMOMETER BEING USED IN FRONT OF EIFFEL TOWER SHOWING 35 DEGREES CELSIUS

5. MAN PUTTING ON CAP, WOMAN TAKING PHOTO WITH PHONE

6. WOMAN HOLDING UMBRELLA OVER BABY STROLLER

7. PEOPLE WALKING NEAR EIFFEL TOWER

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM ISLE OF MAN, PHONSIE OSHEA, SAYING:

“I mean, it is still the month of May, and I think it must be the case, 34 degrees in Paris, I would expect in August or July. But coming in May, I thought it would be a bit cooler, maybe low 20s, but we’re managing. I’ve got two daughters, they’re young, they’re doing very well, and my wife as well, we’re all coping ok. We expected it to be quite warm.”

9. PEOPLE ON STEPS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM LONDON, RACHEL HARRIES, SAYING:

“Not as warm as this – yes, warm, but not as hot as this. This is quite uncomfortable, well, you know, it’s hard to walk and explore in this weather.”

11. TOURIST TAKING PHOTOS

12. FRENCH FLAG

FRANKFURT, GERMANY (MAY 27, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

13. VARIOUS OF TOPSHOT OF FRANKFURT OLD TOWN AND VIEW OF THE 'RÖMER' THE CITY HALL WITH FINANCE DISTRICT IN BACKGROUND

14. PEOPLE WALKING ON SQUARE

15. THERMOMETER BEING HELD IN SUN SHOWING 36.2 DEGREES CELSIUS

16. VARIOUS OF FOUNTAIN ON SQUARE

17. DIFFERENT PART OF SQUARE, FILMED EARLIER, WITH THERMOMETER SHOWING 32.3 DEGREES CELSIUS

18. PEOPLE WALKING IN SQUARE

19. (SOUNDBITE) (German) FRANKFURT LOCAL, INGRID (NO SURNAME GIVEN) SAYING:

"Yes, when you don’t have to work, it’s quite bearable. I really love being a tourist in my own hometown and it's better than the rain and cold."

20. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR, MARCUS MUELLER, SAYING:

"Well, I think it’s lovely this year too, because I have three children myself and I think it’s lovely that they can now enjoy the Whitsun holidays in 30 degrees. Last year it was lovely for a short while too, but then the bad weather set in, so I think it's good. But climate change is definitely noticeable. You notice it most of all in winter.

Back then you could always go sledging and now it’s getting harder and harder every year. And last year it got really difficult here. But with temperatures now around 30 degrees, I actually think it’s lovely for the children – swimming, leisure activities – that they can enjoy their time."

21. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR, MELANIE MUELLER, SAYING:

"I think it’s great as well that the weather is lovely. I think it’s been cold long enough, so now we can finally do something outdoors."

22. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON BRIDGE OVER RIVER MAIN

23. VARIOUS OF BOAT ON MAIN

ROME, ITALY (MAY 27, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

24. ELECTRIC THERMOMETER SHOWING 41.9 DEGREES CELSIUS

25. WOMAN POSING / PEOPLE ON STREET

26. VENDOR SELLING HATS

27. THERMOMETER AT ROME COLOSSEUM SHOWING 42 DEGREES CELSIUS

28. WOMAN FANNING HERSELF

29. WOMAN POSING FOR PHOTO

30. BOY FANNING GIRL

31. TOURISTS CLIMBING STEPS WITH PARASOL

32. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VISITOR DARREN HEISLER FROM VANCOUVER, CANADA, SAYING:

"30 degree weather - beautiful. Absolutely beautiful! A little bit hotter, too much, too much. But this is beautiful weather. Right now, back home in Vancouver, 18/19 overcast and it is ok. But 30 degrees (makes a kiss) awesome!"

33. TOUR GROUP OUTSIDE

34. VENDOR SELLING HATS

35. PEOPLE PASSING

36. WOMAN WITH UMBRELLA FANNING HERSELF

37. PEOPLE SEEN THROUGH ARCH OF COLOSSEUM

38. TOURISTS DRINKING

39. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VISITOR, LEO CARNDUFF, FROM BIRMINGHAM, UK, SAYING:

"Heat here is very warm. A lot of people have air conditioning so that is ok whereas back home no air conditioning so it is a struggle. It's a struggle. As well with the - I don't know what they are called - the water taps, they are life savers actually. I don't know, it's global warming for you but not really much you can do about it, well there is but..."

40. PERSON TAKING WATER FROM WATER DISPENSER

41. PEOPLE DRINKING

42. PEOPLE NEAR COLOSSEUM

MADRID, SPAIN (MAY 27, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

43. PLAZA MAYOR SQUARE

44. LADIES WITH ORANGE BIKES IN SQUARE

45. TOURISTS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS UNDER UMBRELLA

46. THERMOMETER SHOWING 36.5 DEGREES CELSIUS

47. TOURISTS ON SQUARE

48. WOMAN POSING FOR PHOTO

49. PLAZA MAYOR SQUARE

50. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 32-YEAR-OLD VENEZUELAN MECHANIC LIVING IN MADRID, JASON (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

“I’m from Venezuela, a hot place, but it doesn’t compare to this. It’s hot both day and night. That’s why I understand why they said in the TV that Spaniards drank a lot of beer. Now I know! Because that’s what you want (with this heat).”

51. PEOPLE WITH PARASOL IN SQUARE

52. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 32-YEAR-OLD DUTCH TOURIST, (NO SURNAME GIVEN), ELENA, SAYING:

“It’s really hot, yes, yes. I didn’t expect this, just to be honest. But at the same time it’s lovely because you can be outside, in a rooftop terrace."

53. WOMEN SPINNING IN SQUARE

54. WOMEN WALKING PAST WITH FAN

55. TOURISTS ON SQUARE