Portugal experienced a new record for the hottest day in May, with temperatures reaching 40.3 degrees Celsius, while other European countries are coping with severe heatwaves.
Foreign news agencies reported on 28 May 2026 that Portugal faced its hottest May day ever, measuring 40.3 degrees Celsius in Mora, a city in central Portugal, as Western European countries endured extreme heat conditions.
This record was set on Wednesday, 27 May, breaking the previous May record of 40 degrees Celsius set in 2001.
The heatwave in Europe is expected to continue through the weekend, with Germany, Spain, and Switzerland also experiencing unusually high temperatures.
Portugal's meteorological agency indicated that some areas would see temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday before the heat begins to subside.
The French cabinet is meeting to assess the country's readiness for the heatwave, while Italian authorities have issued a red heat alert in Rome, where temperatures could surpass 32 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
France's Baccalaureate exams are proceeding despite the heatwave, even though some schools have temporarily closed due to indoor temperatures reaching 53 degrees Celsius, making conditions unbearable.
Education Minister Édouard Chevreux told the media that exam centers are allowed to choose rooms with the most shade, adding that the exams will continue as students have already prepared.
This decision sparked criticism from education unions and teacher groups; one teacher told a French radio station that teachers were "forced to bring their own fans."
A survey by the French Secondary Schools Union found that nearly 80% of schools recorded temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius this week and reported that teachers had to bring screwdrivers to open windows.
The United Nations warned on Thursday that global average temperatures are likely to remain at or near record highs this year and over the next four years.
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Source:bbc