According to a report by climate experts, May 2026 was the second warmest May on record worldwide. Climate extremes set records across Europe.
June 10, 2026, 06:49June 10, 2026, 06:49
Across Europe, the month was marked by a rapid transition from below-average temperatures to one of the most intense heatwaves ever observed so early in the year in Western Europe, said the climate service of the Earth observation program Copernicus, run by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
It’s getting warmer in Europe. (symbol image)Image: keystone
The heat wave led to numerous temperature records for May being broken. France, Great Britain, Ireland and Portugal suffered particularly under the extreme conditions. As remarkable as this event is, it fits with the rapid warming of Europe and the long-term trend towards more frequent, more intense and earlier heat waves, it was said.
Contrasts even in dry and humid conditions
According to the experts, there was also a contrast in the dry and humid conditions: In May, dryer than average conditions prevailed in large parts of Western, Central and Eastern Europe – including Italy and Spain. Conversely, there were severe floods in Turkey, Bulgaria and Moldova.
In May 2026, extraordinary global warming continued – “with temperatures in the atmosphere and ocean reaching near record levels,” said ECMWF expert Samantha Burgess. “In Europe, an unusually early and intense heat wave shows how quickly climate extremes are becoming the new normal and no longer the exception.”
Exceptionally high sea surface temperatures
The experts pointed out that exceptionally high sea surface temperatures were recorded in the tropical Pacific in May 2026, as the equatorial Pacific continues to develop towards El Niño conditions. According to the information, these are expected to occur in the coming months – a phenomenon that is likely to lead to extreme weather events worldwide.
Outside Europe, in May 2026, the north and southeast of North America, regions of Asia north of the Indian subcontinent and in western China, as well as parts of Brazil, southern Africa and large parts of Australia were among the wetter than average areas, according to the report.
In contrast, the central United States, much of Central Asia, Madagascar, southwestern Australia and much of South America would have experienced dryer than average conditions. (sda/dpa)