Ireland records 30C while Portugal nears 37C in May heat

In Portugal, temperatures climbed even higher, reaching 37C before midday in the Santarém region, about 80 kilometres northeast of Lisbon. Low water levels along the Tagus River exposed large sandbanks, while heat haze covered roads and surrounding farmland. Residents gathered near the river to cool off as others sought shade in town centres. Some locals noted that such conditions were becoming more common than in previous years. The heat affecting both Ireland and Portugal comes as scientists continue to monitor rising temperatures across Europe, where climate experts warn that extreme weather events are occurring with greater frequency and intensity.

The United Nations described the extreme conditions as a “brutal reminder” of the accelerating climate crisis, while authorities issued health warnings across the region. Scientists say rising global temperatures, driven largely by fossil fuel emissions, are making heatwaves increasingly frequent and intense around the world.