Millions of people across Europe are facing extreme and exceptional high temperatures, with France placing 54 of its departments under a red heat wave alert. The intense heat wave, which began early in the summer, has led to 40 fatalities from drowning in France over the past week, primarily among young people seeking relief from the searing temperatures, according to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Daytime highs are expected to remain above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many parts of France for at least the remainder of the week. Meteo France, the national weather service, warned that further record-breaking temperatures are possible, potentially surpassing all previous records regardless of the season. This heat wave has already drawn comparisons to the August 2003 event, which caused an estimated 15,000 deaths.
The early and intense nature of the current heat wave, coupled with an uncertain duration, has impacted daily life. In France, schools, public transportation, and sporting events have been affected. The Eiffel Tower in Paris has adjusted its operating hours, closing in the afternoon instead of its usual late-night schedule.
Europe is experiencing warming at twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Over the last four years, the World Health Organization’s Europe office reported that more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes, with most of these deaths deemed preventable. The current above-average temperatures pose risks of heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke.
Similar extreme conditions are being felt in other European nations. In the United Kingdom, the Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning for Wednesday and Thursday, forecasting temperatures that could break June's all-time daily temperature record. Highs of around 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 F) are expected in southern England, with potential peaks of at least 39 C (102.2 F). Multiple train operators have canceled services to ensure safe operation, and National Rail has urged people to travel only if absolutely necessary.
Spain is also confronting a significant heat wave, with its national weather service, Aemet, issuing red alerts for temperatures reaching 44 C (111 F) in Andalusia. Warnings were also issued for thermometers hitting 40 C (104 F) in northern regions like Cantabria and the Basque Country. Aemet meteorologist Rubén del Campo noted that climate change is contributing to increasingly torrid summers in Spain, characterized by more frequent, longer, and earlier heatwaves.
Data from Copernicus indicates that 2024 has been the hottest year on record globally, with Europe experiencing its second-highest number of "heat stress" days. Scientists warn that climate change is amplifying the intensity and frequency of heat and dryness, particularly in southeastern Europe, increasing vulnerability to health impacts and wildfires.