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May 2026 has gone down as the second‑warmest May ever recorded globally, according to new data released Wednesday by the Copernicus Climate Service. The month delivered a dramatic preview of what scientists warn is becoming Europe’s new climate reality: faster warming, earlier heatwaves, and more extreme contrasts in rainfall.
Early Heatwave Shatters Records Across Europe
Europe experienced one of its most intense early‑season heatwaves on record. Temperatures jumped from below average to scorching within days, breaking May heat records in France, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Climate expert Samantha Burgess of the European Centre for Medium‑Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) said the event illustrates how quickly extremes are shifting into the mainstream.
“An unusually early and intense heatwave shows how fast climate extremes are becoming the new normal,” she noted.
Dry West, Flooded East: A Continent of Contrasts
May brought sharp contrasts in moisture levels across Europe:
- Western Europe — including Italy and Spain — saw significantly drier‑than‑average conditions.
- Turkey, Bulgaria, and Moldova were hit by severe flooding, driven by persistent heavy rainfall.
These extremes, scientists say, reflect a warming climate’s tendency to amplify both drought and deluge.
Global Temperatures Near Record Highs
Worldwide, the month continued the trend of exceptional atmospheric and oceanic warmth.
In the tropical Pacific, sea‑surface temperatures climbed to extraordinary levels as the region moved toward El Niño conditions—a pattern expected to fully develop in the coming months.
Such a shift typically triggers extreme weather events across the globe, from heavy rains in some regions to droughts in others.
Wet and Dry Extremes Beyond Europe
Copernicus data show that May 2026 brought:
- Above‑average rainfall in northern and southeastern North America, parts of Asia north of the Indian subcontinent, western China, Brazil, southern Africa, and much of Australia.
- Below‑average rainfall in the central United States, Central Asia, Madagascar, southwestern Australia, and large parts of South America.
These patterns underscore the global reach of climate instability, driven by both long‑term warming and emerging El Niño dynamics.
May 2026 was not an anomaly but part of a clear, accelerating trend:
Europe and the world are warming rapidly, and extreme weather is becoming more frequent, more intense, and earlier in the season.
- source: APA/picture: pixabay.com
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