A powerful heatwave sweeping across Western Europe has shattered temperature records in several countries, with France registering its hottest day ever, the United Kingdom recording unprecedented June heat, and Spain posting its highest average daily temperature since 1950.
Millions of people across the region are enduring extreme weather conditions, as temperatures climbed to nearly 41C in Paris and authorities issued red heat warnings across large parts of Europe.
France’s national temperature indicator, which measures the average day and night temperatures recorded at dozens of locations nationwide, reached 30C on Wednesday — the highest level since records began in 1947.
More than half of France remains under red alert, while tens of thousands of households in the country’s western regions continue to experience power outages.
Scientists say climate change is increasing temperatures worldwide, with Europe warming faster than any other continent.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is heating at twice the global average rate.
The trend has contributed to more frequent and intense summer heatwaves, increasing strain on water resources and raising the likelihood of severe wildfires.
According to Météo-France, provisional maximum temperatures across the country “remained relatively stable compared to the previous day”.
Temperatures ranged between 39C and 43C across much of western France. The highest reading of 43C was recorded in the Poitou-Charentes-Val de Loire region, slightly below Tuesday’s peak of 44.3C recorded in Pissos.
The scorching conditions forced two of Paris’ most famous attractions, the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower, to close earlier than normal.
A spokesperson for the Louvre said the building was “not sufficiently adapted to climate change”.
French authorities reported that at least 40 people have drowned in incidents linked to the heatwave since last Thursday, including a six-year-old child who died at a beach in Bègles, Gironde.
Officials have also expressed concern over heightened wildfire risks due to the prolonged hot weather.
In the Maine-et-Loire region, more than 150 firefighters were mobilised on Tuesday to battle a major blaze in the Breignon forest near Saint-Macaire-du-Bois. Authorities later confirmed the fire was brought under control overnight.
Labour minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said France is “in the process of finding out we’ve become a hot country” and warned society may need to adapt.
Forecasters expect some respite from the extreme temperatures beginning on Friday, with conditions gradually cooling.
The heatwave expanded further across Western Europe on Wednesday, prompting the extension of a rare red heat warning in parts of the UK.
Britain recorded its hottest June day on record in Gosport, Hampshire, where temperatures reached 36.1C on Wednesday afternoon.
Meteorologists have warned that temperatures could rise to 38C on Thursday.
Spain has also endured intense heat in recent days. The country’s weather agency reported average daily temperatures of 28.08C on Monday and 28.17C on Tuesday, marking the highest June averages ever recorded.
Red heat warnings remain active in parts of northern Spain, where temperatures could climb to 42C in sections of the Basque Country, according to forecaster Aemet.
Italy has issued 16 red heat alerts, particularly affecting northern and central regions.
Meteorologists expect temperatures to reach their highest levels later this week in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The heatwave is also forecast to spread into Eastern Europe, with severe heat warnings issued for countries including Poland, Croatia and Hungary.
Germany has reported several heat-related drownings, including a 26-year-old man who died after entering the Danube River near Regensburg in Bavaria on Tuesday evening.
Authorities in parts of Germany are also becoming increasingly concerned about drought conditions.
Residents in Brandenburg, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia have been urged to limit water consumption, according to reports by German newspaper Die Welt.
Several cities, including Stuttgart and Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg, have introduced barbecue bans as a precaution against fire outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the Dutch weather service KNMI has issued a Code Orange alert for southern and central parts of the Netherlands through at least Friday, warning of a “high chance of dangerous weather”.
The agency said temperatures could reach 37C, with some forecasts suggesting highs of 39C by Friday.
Most of Belgium is also under an orange weather warning, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 37C in the coming days.
