A powerful early summer heatwave tightened its grip on Western Europe on Thursday, breaking temperature records, straining public services and contributing to dozens of deaths as authorities urged residents to alter their daily routines to cope with dangerous conditions.
Britain recorded its hottest June day on record, while France, Germany and Italy continued battling extreme temperatures that have overwhelmed healthcare systems, disrupted education and raised concerns about worker safety. Meteorologists warned that the heatwave, driven by an unusual atmospheric pattern, could intensify further before easing.
In Britain, temperatures reached 36.4 degrees Celsius (97.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in southwest England, surpassing the previous June record that had been set only a day earlier, according to the Met Office. Forecasters extended a rare red heat alert through Friday, marking the first time the country has experienced such warnings for three consecutive days.
“Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to adapt their daily routines to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK,” said Andy Page, chief meteorologist at the Met Office.
France also endured another day of extreme heat after Paris reached a June record of 40.9 C (105.6 F) on Wednesday. Health authorities activated the country’s highest level of healthcare mobilization, allowing hospitals to postpone non-urgent procedures and redirect resources toward heat-related emergencies.
Officials warned that younger and otherwise healthy adults should not underestimate the risks posed by prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.
“Rather, it’s people aged between 50 and 70 who are generally in good health, but who think this is just a normal period and continue going about their usual activities as if nothing has changed,” Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told broadcaster TF1. “Really, protect yourselves.”
The human toll continued to rise. French authorities said at least 48 people had drowned since the heatwave began while attempting to cool off in rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Three young children also died after being left in vehicles during the hot weather.
Germany reported a surge in swimming-related fatalities, with the German Life Saving Association saying more than 20 people had died in water accidents since the end of last week. In Italy, local media reported at least five heat-related deaths on Wednesday alone.
Italian labor groups warned that as many as 1.5 million workers, including construction crews, agricultural laborers and delivery personnel, could face dangerous working conditions as temperatures continue climbing. Several regional governments have already banned outdoor work during the hottest parts of the day, while Rome announced support measures for companies forced to suspend operations because of the heat.
The current heatwave has prompted memories of Europe’s devastating summer of 2003, when extreme temperatures contributed to nearly 15,000 excess deaths in France alone. Since then, French authorities have introduced extensive heat-response measures, including regular welfare checks for elderly residents and expanded access to air-conditioned facilities in retirement homes.
Yet officials say the threat extends far beyond vulnerable populations.
The combination of extreme temperatures and widespread outdoor activity has created new risks, particularly among people who continue exercising, traveling or working despite official warnings. Emergency services across several countries have reported increased call volumes related to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Education systems have also been disrupted. French Education Minister Edouard Geffray said approximately 13,500 schools were either closed or operating on modified schedules on Thursday.
In Britain, more than 1,000 schools either closed completely or partially suspended classes as classroom temperatures climbed above 40 C in some locations. Authorities expressed concern about children spending time on exposed playgrounds with little shade as the academic year enters its final weeks.
Tourists visiting some of Europe’s most popular destinations have also struggled with the conditions.
U.S. visitor Keaghan Cronin, who was helping her children cool off in public sprinklers in Paris, said the family planned to shorten their trip because of the heat.
“They’re very uncomfortable,” she said. “We are actually going to leave a little early because it’s too hot.”
The heatwave is being driven by a weather phenomenon known as an Omega block, which traps hot air beneath a stationary high-pressure system. According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, temperatures across parts of Europe are running as much as 18 C above seasonal averages.
Meteorologists say the pattern resembles the Greek letter omega, with a ridge of high pressure locked in place and preventing cooler air from moving into affected regions. Scientists note that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events.
Air conditioning remains less common in Europe than in many other regions, but the prolonged heat has fueled a surge in demand. Manufacturers including South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, China’s Midea and Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric have reported strong sales growth in markets such as France, Spain and Italy.
United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell said the current crisis reflects the growing consequences of global warming.
“Europe’s savage heatwave has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it — it’s the latest price to pay for fossil fuel pollution baking our planet,” Stiell said.
“Schools closing, the vulnerable dying, economies sweating: this is what the climate crisis looks like in practice, and it’s just getting started.”
Forecasters expect temperatures to remain dangerously high through the weekend in several countries, raising fears that the death toll could climb further as Europe confronts one of its most intense early-summer heatwaves on record.
