Western Europe is facing a ferocious heatwave with temperatures soaring toward record levels in France, the UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. Many countries have issued red alerts and threat to life warnings as temperatures push beyond 40 degrees Celsius. This event marks the second heatwave in a month, with predictions that conditions may not cool down until the weekend or next week.
France has been the most affected, registering its hottest day since measurements began in 1947. On Monday, the national average temperature reached 29.2 degrees Celsius, the third hottest day ever recorded. Authorities have placed between 49 and 54 departments on red alert, urging up to 39 million people to exercise absolute vigilance, avoid strenuous exertion, and drink water often. Some forecasters suggest this heatwave could be as serious as the one in August 2003.
The extreme heat has proven deadly. Three elderly people died in their homes and two children, aged 2 and 4, were found dead in a parked car. Additionally, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that 40 people, mostly young people, have drowned since June 18 while swimming in unsupervised areas to cool off. According to the WHO, 200,000 people across the EU have died due to heat since 2022.
Across the region, the heat has caused widespread disruption. Nearly 2,700 French schools have closed or modified their timetables, and monuments in Paris are operating on reduced hours. In Belgium, rail services have been disrupted, while sports events in Germany and Spain have been postponed or cancelled. Some countries have even restricted alcohol consumption to mitigate the effects of the searing heat.