Exceptionally early heat wave shatters records and brings deaths in Europe

LONDON (AP) — Temperature records have toppled as a spring heatwave continued to scorch parts of Western Europe on Tuesday, triggering government warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down.

London recorded a rare “tropical night,” defined as one in which the temperature does not fall below 20 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), and Britain’s Met Office weather service said the temperature in southern England could reach 35 C (95 F) on Tuesday.

Monday was the U.K.’s hottest May day on record, with the temperature hitting 34.8 C (94.6 F) at Kew Gardens in London, smashing the previous record of 32.8 C (91.4 F) set in 1922 and 1944. Records also fell in France, where temperatures reached 36 C (97 F) on Monday and widely remained above 20 C (68 F) at night.

The national weather service, Météo-France, said a “heat dome,” with heat held in place by a high-pressure weather front, was producing temperatures more than 10 degrees Celsius above what used to be usual for this time of year.

Unpredictable and extreme weather are becoming more frequent as Earth’s warming builds. Experts say unprecedented and deadly weather extremes that sometimes strike at abnormal times and in unusual places are putting more people in danger.

After a U.K. long weekend that sent people flocking to beaches, pools and shady parks, London commuters sweltered on Tuesday in subway carriages without air conditioning. Trains to and from the busy Waterloo station were disrupted by a report of smoke on the tracks.

In Scotland, firefighters worked through the night to douse a grass fire that sent smoke billowing from Arthur’s Seat, the rocky hill that looms over Edinburgh.

The U.K. Health Security Agency issued an amber health alert for large parts of the country through Thursday, warning of a potential health risk, particularly among older people, at the hottest times of the day. The U.K. is used to moderate temperatures, and many homes, schools and businesses do not have air conditioning.

A 13-year-old boy died in the water of a reservoir in Halifax, northern England, on Monday, police said.

French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said there have been reports of at least seven deaths potentially related to high temperatures, including five drownings and two deaths in sports competitions.

The early heatwave has struck before the annual summer window when lifeguards watch over bathers at popular beaches, increasing risks.

On France’s Atlantic seaboard, where magnificent beaches have powerful riptides, officials reported a rash of emergencies in the surf with two drowning deaths on Sunday at popular resorts in the Gironde region in the southwest.

The top regional administrator, Sophie Brocas, urged beachgoers “to exercise the utmost caution.”

The unseasonable heat extended to Spain, where weather service spokesperson Rubén del Campo said "we find ourselves with temperatures we normally see in the middle of the summer now in the month of May.”

He said Seville hit 38 C (100 F) over the weekend, while large parts of the peninsula saw temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal.

And in Rome, temperatures were expected to reach 32 degrees C (89.6 F) on Tuesday.

Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris and Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this report.

A woman shelters from the sun with a city guide in downtown Rome as temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A woman drinks water from a frozen bottle in downtown Rome as temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A man drinks water at a fountain in downtown Rome as temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

People enjoying the warm weather on Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone, England, Saturday May 23, 2026. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

A speed boat passes by the Conciergerie along the Seine River during a sunny day in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

People seek relief from the heat along the Seine River in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2026. Artwork by street artist JR is seen on the Pont Neuf in the background. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A man cools down with a bottle of water during the hot weather on Westminster Bridge, central London, England, Monday, May 25, 2026. (James Manning/PA via AP)

People visit Bournemouth beach, south England, Monday May 25, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2026--

INNIO Group ("INNIO"), a leading global distributed energy solutions provider, today announces the launch of its roadshow for its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of its common shares, with 75,000,000 common shares to be offered by the selling shareholder. In connection with the offering, the selling shareholder has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 11,250,000 common shares at the IPO price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The IPO price is currently estimated to be between $24.00 and $27.00 per share. INNIO has applied to list its common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "INIO."

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526069571/en/

The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus related to the proposed offering, when available, may be obtained from:

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan, and Morgan Stanley are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. BofA Securities, Barclays, and Citigroup are acting as book-running managers for the proposed offering. Baird, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank Securities, RBC Capital Markets, and UBS Investment Bank are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering. Credit Agricole CIB, Erste Group, UniCredit, Academy Securities, and Drexel Hamilton are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, including with respect to the proposed IPO. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections. While they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause INNIO’s actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, INNIO assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About INNIO Group

INNIO Group is a global distributed energy solutions provider that delivers reliable, flexible, transient, decentralized, modular, and efficient power. With a track record of innovation, INNIO designs, manufactures, and services high‑performance power systems under its Jenbacher and Waukesha brands. The company delivers power for applications including data centers, microgrids, grid stabilization, industrial energy, and gas compression.

INNIO has a global coverage across approximately 100 countries as of December 31, 2025, supported by a resilient, high‑margin services business that delivers long‑term, recurring revenues across the full equipment lifecycle. As electricity demand accelerates—driven by AI, electrification and grid constraints—INNIO enables scalable, behind‑the‑meter power generation with high efficiency, fast start capability, strong transient performance, and fuel flexibility, including hydrogen‑ready solutions. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, INNIO employs over 5,000 people worldwide and is committed to moving energy forward.

INNIO Launches Roadshow for Initial Public Offering