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Europe's Heatwave Shatters Records, Opens Shelters, Links Deaths to Climate

5/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Spain recorded up to 38 °C as forecasts in the United Kingdom and southwest France predicted 33 °C and 35 °C, breaking May records.
Imperial College found that 68 % of 24,400 heat deaths last summer were linked to climate-change-driven warming of up to 3.6 °C.
Spain opened roughly 400 climate shelters in public buildings to aid vulnerable residents.
Paris conducted a 2023 “Paris at 50 °C” exercise using an 18 °C tunnel to test emergency response.

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Story summary

Spain recorded up to 38 °C as forecasts in the United Kingdom and southwest France predicted 33 °C and 35 °C, breaking May records.
Imperial College found that 68 % of 24,400 heat deaths last summer were linked to climate-change-driven warming of up to 3.6 °C.
Spain opened roughly 400 climate shelters in public buildings to aid vulnerable residents.
Paris conducted a 2023 “Paris at 50 °C” exercise using an 18 °C tunnel to test emergency response.