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Portugal Records Hottest May Day as Europe Battles Intense Heatwave

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Portugal has recorded its hottest May temperature ever after the town of Mora hit 40.3°C, breaking a national record set more than two decades ago. The extreme heat is part of a wider heatwave affecting several Western European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Authorities across Europe are scrambling to respond as temperatures continue to soar. France held emergency meetings on heatwave preparedness, while schools reported dangerous indoor temperatures above 50°C. In Italy, cities including Rome were placed under red heat alerts, warning of serious health risks even for healthy people.

The intense weather has also disrupted major events, with tennis star Jannik Sinner struggling with dizziness during the French Open amid the heat. Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and severe, with the UN warning that global temperatures are likely to remain near record highs in the coming years.

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Early Heatwave Triggers Widespread Power Outages and Grid Strain in Turin

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The northwestern Italian city of Turin is experiencing severe power blackouts as an early European heatwave pushes the local electricity network to its limits. The repeated outages have struck multiple districts over recent days, knocking out traffic lights and causing significant road congestion. Local utility company Iren, which serves approximately 650,000 electricity customers in the city, attributed the disruptions to unprecedented thermal stress on underground cables caused by prolonged daylight hours and high temperatures. While a spokesperson for Iren acknowledged the ongoing sporadic outages, they clarified that the city has not been brought to a complete standstill.

The crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities of Turin’s aging infrastructure under the weight of rising global temperatures and surging energy consumption. Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo highlighted that the city’s electricity network requires urgent investment and maintenance, noting that while network upgrades are planned, widespread intervention will take time. Iren has already launched a €515 million ($598 million) modernization plan extending through 2030 to upgrade Turin’s primary grid. However, officials admit that the accelerating frequency and unpredictable timing of these intense heatwaves are severely complicating their implementation timeline.

As Italy grapples with its first major heatwave of the year, the Italian Air Force’s weather service forecast temperatures reaching a high of 32 degrees Celsius (89.6°F) in Turin. In response to the weather extremity, the local municipality has issued public warnings regarding the health risks associated with the high temperatures. To protect vulnerable residents, city officials have opened dedicated public cooling spaces equipped with fans and air conditioning.

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Italy’s “Lovers’ Arch” Collapses Into Sea on Valentine’s Day

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A famous natural rock formation known as “Lovers’ Arch” collapsed into the sea on Valentine’s Day after days of heavy rain and strong winds in southern Italy. The arch, located at Sant’Andrea in Melendugno, Puglia, was a popular landmark on the Adriatic coast and a favored spot for wedding proposals and photos.

Melendugno’s mayor, Maurizio Cisternino, described the collapse as “an unwanted Valentine’s Day gift,” calling it a heavy blow for local tourism. Authorities believe the severe weather brought by Storm Oriana accelerated long-term erosion, leading to the sudden failure of the rock formation, which passers-by noticed missing on Sunday morning.

Regional president Antonio Decaro said the loss marked the disappearance of a symbolic feature of the coast and highlighted the urgent need to slow coastal erosion. The arch stood in the Salento, one of Italy’s most visited tourist areas, underscoring concerns about how extreme weather is increasingly reshaping vulnerable coastal landscapes.

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Two Britons Killed in French Alps Avalanche Near Val d’Isère

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Two British men and one French national have died after an avalanche swept through the Manchet valley near Val d’Isère in the French Alps. The Britons were part of a group of five skiing off-piste with an instructor when the avalanche struck on Friday morning, while the French victim was skiing alone, according to local prosecutors. Another British skier sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The UK Foreign Office said it was aware of the deaths and was in contact with French authorities to provide consular assistance. Albertville prosecutor Benoit Bachelet confirmed that a manslaughter investigation has been opened and will be handled by specialist mountain rescue police. The ski instructor involved was unharmed and tested negative for alcohol and drugs.

The avalanche followed heavy snowfall linked to Storm Nils, which dumped up to a metre of snow across parts of the Alps, leaving the snowpack highly unstable. Météo-France had issued a red alert for avalanche risk in the Savoie region a day earlier, warning of dangerous conditions. Authorities say several fatal avalanches have occurred this winter, underscoring the ongoing risks of off-piste skiing despite lifted alerts.

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Eighth Storm Claims Life in Spain as Extreme Weather Batters Iberian Peninsula

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A 46-year-old woman has died in Barcelona after being struck by debris from a warehouse roof torn off by powerful winds, as the eighth major storm of the year swept across Spain and Portugal, according to officials. The woman succumbed to her injuries in hospital early Friday. Repeated bouts of heavy rain, strong gales, snow, and thunderstorms have caused widespread damage, forcing mass evacuations and disrupting daily life across the Iberian Peninsula.

Spain’s Agriculture Minister Luis Planas described the succession of storms as “truly extraordinary,” warning that authorities must assess whether such events could become more frequent. Around 14,000 hectares of farmland—including berries, citrus fruits, and olives—have already been damaged. Data from AEMET shows Spain has received 38% more rainfall than average since October, heightening concerns over infrastructure resilience and agricultural losses.

In Portugal, authorities in the historic city of Coimbra warned of possible severe flooding along the Mondego River, with up to 9,000 residents at risk of evacuation as reservoirs neared capacity. Schools and universities were closed, and similar measures were taken in parts of southern Spain, including Andalusia, where thousands have already been displaced. Forecasts also warned of intense rainfall in areas such as Grazalema, underscoring the continued threat of flooding and landslides.

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Spain, Portugal on High Alert as Storms Lash Iberian Peninsula

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Spain and Portugal remained on high alert as heavy rain and powerful winds swept across the Iberian Peninsula, causing widespread disruption. Trees were uprooted, transport services were interrupted and schools were closed in several regions. In northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region, one person was left in serious condition after being struck by a falling tree, with at least four others reported injured.

Spain issued its highest red weather alert in Galicia, Cantabria and the Basque Country following the arrival of Storm Nils — the eighth storm to hit the country this year. Authorities in Catalonia suspended classes, sporting events and some non-essential healthcare services as wind gusts exceeded 105 km/h, disrupting road and rail networks. Around 40 flights at Barcelona’s El Prat airport were cancelled, while warnings were issued about waves reaching up to nine metres along parts of the coast.

In Portugal, an “atmospheric river” brought intense rainfall, particularly in northern areas, prompting the evacuation of about 3,000 residents. A section of the A1 motorway near Coimbra collapsed after flooding weakened its foundations, and officials said repairs could take weeks. While Storm Oriana is not expected to directly strike mainland Portugal, authorities warned of continued heavy rain and strong winds in the coming days.

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Storm Marta Batters Spain and Portugal, Farmers Warn of Severe Crop Losses

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Farmers in Spain have reported catastrophic damage to crops as Storm Marta swept across the Iberian Peninsula, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and flooding. Large swathes of farmland have been submerged, particularly in southern regions such as Andalusia, where growers warned that vegetables including broccoli, carrots and cauliflower have been destroyed. The storm follows a series of extreme weather events in recent weeks that have already left soils saturated and vulnerable.

The severe weather has taken a deadly toll, with a snowplough driver killed in northern Spain after his vehicle plunged down a mountain slope, and a man drowning in Portugal. Authorities said at least five people have died since storms began hitting the region last week. More than 11,000 residents have been evacuated in southern Spain, hundreds of roads have been closed, and rail services in Portugal have faced major disruptions. Preliminary estimates from Portugal’s agriculture ministry put damage to farming and forestry at around €750 million.

Weather agencies warned that conditions could worsen, issuing orange alerts for heavy rain, snow and hazardous coastal conditions. Rising river levels, particularly along the Guadalquivir in Andalusia, have prompted evacuations and raised fears of landslides and ground instability. In Portugal, emergency services have deployed more than 26,000 rescue workers, while authorities postponed voting in several towns due to flooding, as Spain and Portugal brace for further impact from Storm Marta.

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Storm Leonardo Triggers Deadly Flooding Across Spain and Portugal

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Storm Leonardo battered Spain and Portugal with torrential rain on Thursday, triggering widespread flooding, fresh evacuation orders and multiple casualties. A man was killed in southern Portugal after his car was swept away by floodwaters, while Spanish rescue teams continued searching for a woman who was dragged into a river as she tried to save her dog, authorities said.

The storm is the latest in a series of severe winter systems to hit the Iberian Peninsula since the start of 2026, causing deaths, property damage and major disruptions. Scientists say flooding across Europe is becoming more frequent as climate change warms the atmosphere, allowing it to hold more moisture. In Spain’s Andalusia region, the mountain village of Grazalema recorded as much rainfall in just 16 hours as Madrid typically sees in an entire year.

Authorities evacuated Grazalema’s roughly 1,500 residents as water flooded homes and surged through steep streets, while two nearby reservoirs were close to overflowing. In Portugal’s Alcacer do Sal, residents waded through waist-deep water after the Sado River burst its banks, submerging shops and restaurants. With another storm expected over the weekend, officials warned that conditions could worsen across the region.

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Record Snowfall Paralyzes Russia’s Far East, Bringing Fun and Frustration

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Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula has been hit by its heaviest snowfall in six decades, leaving cities buried under massive snowdrifts several metres high. In the port city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, extreme winter storms have blocked building entrances, submerged cars and disrupted daily life, according to visuals and data from weather monitoring stations.

Officials said more than two metres of snow has fallen in the first half of January alone, following 3.7 metres recorded in December. Reuters images showed vehicles almost completely buried, with four-wheel drives struggling to move through thick drifts, while residents were forced to dig narrow paths to access apartment buildings and roads.

Despite the disruption, locals have tried to find moments of humour amid the chaos. Videos on Russian media showed people walking along towering snowbanks beside traffic lights, while some jumped off the drifts for fun. “The car has been parked in a snowdrift for a month,” said local photographer Lydmila Moskvicheva, capturing both the frustration and surreal beauty of the historic snowfall.

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Deadly Tidal Surge in Tenerife Claims Three Lives, Injures 15

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Powerful waves slammed into the popular Spanish island of Tenerife, leaving three people dead and 15 others injured. The victims included a woman who suffered a heart attack after being swept into the water near Puerto de la Cruz, and two men who were pulled from the ocean at Santa Cruz de Tenerife and El Cabezo beach but could not be revived.

Emergency services said that several people were dragged out to sea as the rough weather struck coastal areas. In Puerto de la Cruz alone, 10 people were swept away, with three left seriously injured and taken to hospital. Local witnesses described chaotic scenes, including a waiter who jumped into the water to rescue swimmers but was unable to save one of the victims.

Authorities have urged both residents and tourists to stay away from the shoreline, warning that sea conditions are expected to worsen with swells up to four metres. They cautioned the public against taking photos or videos near the waves and stressed the need for extreme vigilance along coastal paths.

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