Europe Faces Early Summer Heat Wave as Red Alerts, 40°C Temperatures and Drowning Deaths Raise Alarm Across the Continent

Extreme heat grips western Europe early in the season

Millions of people across Europe were exposed to extreme and exceptional temperatures on Tuesday as an early summer heat wave spread across the continent. France, Spain, Italy, Britain, Switzerland and Luxembourg have all faced high-level heat bulletins, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several areas.

France is among the countries most affected so far. The heat has remained high around the clock, and the national weather service, Météo-France, placed 54 departments, about half the country, under a red heat wave alert.

In France, the event has already been compared with the August 2003 heat wave, when the highest temperatures in more than half a century caused an estimated 15,000 deaths, many among older people in apartments and retirement homes without air conditioning.

France records 40 drowning deaths as people seek relief

French authorities recorded 40 drowning deaths in the past week as residents sought relief from the searing heat. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said those who died by drowning since last Thursday were mainly young people.

Schools, public transportation and sporting events have been affected in a country where air conditioning is not widespread. Extreme conditions are expected to last at least until the end of the week, with daytime highs above 40 degrees Celsius in many towns.

Météo-France warned that the heat could still intensify.

Météo-France: “Further record-breaking temperatures are expected, including some that could surpass all previous records, regardless of the time of year."

The French weather service described the heat wave as exceptionally intense and very early in the summer, with duration still uncertain.

Paris opens cooling spaces as temperatures stay high

In Paris, France, parks and gardens will stay open 24 hours a day so residents have places to cool off. Swimming is also allowed in Canal Saint-Martin from Wednesday.

France recorded its third hottest day ever on Monday, when the national average temperature reached 29.2 degrees Celsius. According to Météo-France, 20 percent of the country exceeded the 40 degree threshold.

The heat will continue until at least Thursday.

Across city streets, rail stations, schools and public spaces, the impact is spreading beyond weather maps. The heat is affecting daily movement, outdoor activity and basic routines.

Spain faces 44 degrees in the south

Spain is facing a heat wave across several parts of the Iberian Peninsula. The national weather service AEMET issued red alerts on Tuesday for temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius in southern Andalusia, Spain.

Warnings were also issued for temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in Cantabria, Spain, and the Basque Country, Spain, normally more temperate regions along the northern Atlantic coast.

AEMET said warm Saharan air, combined with high levels of sunshine at this time of year, could push temperatures to 44 degrees in parts of Spain.

AEMET meteorologist Rubén del Campo said Spain has experienced increasingly torrid summers in recent years and is expected to get hotter because of climate change, as heat waves become more frequent, longer and appear outside the traditional July and August window.

Of the dozen June heat waves AEMET has recorded since it began tracking them in 1975, half have occurred since 2015, del Campo said.

Britain faces school closures and train disruption

Across the English Channel, Britain has also been hit by the heat. Many schools said they were closing for the day, while train services were disrupted.

The UK Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning for Wednesday and Thursday, covering large parts of south and central England and Wales. Forecasts suggested June’s all-time daily temperature record could be broken.

Temperatures around 37 degrees Celsius are expected in southern England, England, with up to 35 degrees Celsius in southeast Wales, Wales. The peak of the heat wave is forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, when highs could reach at least 39 degrees Celsius.

Conditions are expected to ease by Friday, according to the Met Office.

On Tuesday, several train operators across the UK said they were cancelling services to ensure the safe operation of the railway. National Rail urged people to travel only if absolutely necessary on Wednesday and Thursday.

Red alerts spread through western Europe

Several countries have issued red heat alerts as the continent swelters under extreme temperatures.

In the United Kingdom, the Met Office warned of adverse health effects, a high risk of loss of power and disruption to services, including water, electricity and mobile phone services. It also warned that busy coastal areas, lakes and rivers could see more water safety incidents.

In Luxembourg, the Weather and Flood Risk Assessment Unit, CERI, issued a red alert until the end of the week. Average temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius are expected, with a peak on Wednesday. The alert coincides with Luxembourg’s National Day on 23 June. Organisers have adapted plans to protect vulnerable people, including increasing the availability of water points at events.

In Switzerland, MeteoSwiss issued level four heat wave alerts for parts of the country, including northwest Switzerland, the Lake Geneva region, Switzerland, and central Valais, Switzerland. The alerts will remain in place until Saturday. On the southern side of the Alps, widespread temperatures between 34 and 37 degrees Celsius are expected.

Italy places major cities under heat bulletins

Italy is also under pressure from the heat. The Ministry of Health issued level three heat wave bulletins for several cities for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The affected cities include Bologna, Italy, Florence, Italy, Milan, Italy, Rome, Italy, Turin, Italy, Venice, Italy, and Verona, Italy.

Other major destinations have level two alerts in place, including Bari, Italy, Naples, Italy, and Palermo, Italy.

The heat in Italy is part of the same broader western European pattern, with high temperatures building across urban centres and tourist destinations during a period of heavy summer movement.

Health risks rise as nights stay hot

The above-average temperatures can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. The risk increases when temperatures remain high through the night, limiting the body’s ability to recover after daytime heat.

In France, conditions are expected to remain high around the clock. In Britain, the heat will be accompanied by high humidity in some places. In Spain, very hot air over land and surrounding sea waters is adding to the intensity of the heat wave.

This is not only daytime heat. It is heat that lingers.

Climate change and Europe’s warming trend

Human-caused climate change is tied to increasingly extreme weather, and projections from the United Nations climate agency say the next five years should shatter more heat records.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Copernicus also found that in Europe and globally, 2024 was the hottest year on record, while Europe experienced its second-highest number of heat stress days.

The World Health Organization’s Europe office said this month that more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of those deaths were preventable.

Scientists warn that climate change is worsening the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, especially in southeastern Europe, increasing vulnerability to health impacts and wildfires.

What officials and forecasters said

Météo-France: “Further record-breaking temperatures are expected, including some that could surpass all previous records, regardless of the time of year."

Rubén del Campo, AEMET: Spain is expected to get hotter because of climate change, with heat waves becoming more frequent, longer and appearing outside the traditional July and August period.

UK Met Office: The red alert warns of adverse health effects, possible disruption to power and services, and increased risk around coastal areas, lakes and rivers.

World Health Organization Europe office: More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of those deaths were preventable.