May 2026 – Week 4

By Anders Lorenzen

In this week’s live blog, we are taking a broader look across climate and energy, covering the key news, developments and comments.

As part of an expanded focus on real-time coverage, this live blog will continue to track developments across global energy markets, including electricity prices, oil and gas benchmarks, and renewable generation trends. But we will also track key climate news and events, including impacts such as extreme weather events as they happen.

It is updated every day throughout the week with the most significant developments around energy and climate.

Last week’s live blog can be found here.

This blog has now closed, but this week’s live blog is live and can be found here.

Latest

Saturday 30th of May 2026

19:45 GMT

Oil price: The oil futures are again reacting to geopolitical news, as Brent Crude and WTI on Friday reached a two month low after another surge in optimism of a US-Iranian peace deal.

Friday 29th of May 2026

19:15 GMT

Heatwave: The record-breaking heatwave in the UK has exposed the country’s infrastructure as one that is not fit to deal with extreme heat events, as some areas in England ran out of water.

01:40 GMT

Temperature records: Portugal has joined the UK and also recorded a new all-time high temperature for May.

The country recorded 40.3°, measured in the central town of Mora, beating the previous record of 40°C set in May 2001.

Earlier updates

Wednesday 27th of May 2026

18:30 GMT

Oil supply: As conflicting information is released by the Iranian and US governments on any peace agreement, Trump has falsely claimed that the US is producing double the amount of Russia and Saudi Arabia combined.

Tuesday 26th of May 2026

16:20 GMT

Temperature records: For the second day in a row, the UK has broken it’s all time May temperature record, with Heathrow in west London recording 35 degrees C, beating yesterday’s 34.8 degrees C recorded in Kew Gardens, west London.

14:55 GMT

Heatwave: It is predicted that France is to record its first major early heatwave:

12:10 GMT

Oil price: After having declined for several days, the oil futures have risen this morning in Early trading on the Asian and European markets, responding to further doubts about a US-Iran peace deal, as there were US military strikes on southern Iranian targets this morning

11:40 GMT

Temperature records: Our story and the context for the UK temperature record and heatwave can be read below:

11:05 GMT

Extreme heat: Authorities in France have said that at least seven people have died dut heatwave linked incidents.

Monday 25th of May 2026

22:20 GMT

Extreme heat: Meanwhile, if Europeans think they have it bad, it is nothing compared to the conditions in India. The country is currently battling a record-shattering heatwave with catastrophic consequences as an atmospheric heat domes is is trapping sizzling air across northern, central, and western regions. Temperatures have consistently surpassed 45°C, with peak areas hitting between 46°C and 48.2°C, causing severe public health emergencies, acute wildlife distress, and power grid failures.

22:10 GMT

Heatwave: The new UK record comes as a large part of the European continent is suffering from extreme heat, with a series of new temperature records expected.

22:00 GMT

Temperature records: The UK has officially set a new all-time high temperature record for May, beating the previous record of 32.8 degrees C set in 1944, convincingly by recording 34.8 degrees C in west London.