Heat swelters across Western Europe/ France, Britain and Spain experience record temperatures

2026-06-25 09:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Heat swelters across Western Europe/ France, Britain and Spain experience record

A severe heat wave sweeping across Western Europe has brought record temperatures to several countries, causing alarm among authorities and hardship for millions of residents.

France recorded its hottest day on record, while the UK recorded its highest temperature ever recorded for the month of June. Spain also reported its highest daily average temperature since 1950.

In France, the national average day-night temperature reached 30°C on Wednesday, the highest level since records began in 1947. In Paris, temperatures approached 41°C, while more than half of the country remains under a red alert for extreme heat. Tens of thousands of homes in the west of the country have been left without electricity.

Climate change is raising temperatures around the world, but Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, experts say. This is leading to more frequent heat waves, water shortages and an increased risk of wildfires.

Temperatures in France have reached 43°C in some western regions. The heat has forced the Louvre museum and the Eiffel Tower in Paris to close earlier than usual. A Louvre spokesman said the building was "not sufficiently adapted to climate change".

At least 40 people have died in heat-related incidents since last week, including a six-year-old child on a beach in Gironde. Authorities have also warned of a high risk of forest fires.

Heatwaves have also spread to other European countries. In the UK, temperatures reached 36.1°C in Gosport, Hampshire, setting a new record for June. Meteorologists are warning that temperatures could reach 38°C.

In Spain, the average daily temperature reached over 28°C, the highest level ever recorded for the month of June. Red alerts remain in place in some northern areas, where temperatures could reach up to 42°C.

Italy has issued 16 red heat alerts, mainly in the north and centre of the country. Meanwhile, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are expected to face peak temperatures over the weekend.

Several drownings have been reported in Germany while trying to cool off in rivers and lakes. Authorities in some regions have called for water conservation, while cities such as Stuttgart and Freiburg have banned barbecues due to the risk of fires.

Meteorologists warn that the heat wave will spread to Eastern Europe in the coming days, affecting countries such as Poland, Croatia and Hungary. Experts say these extreme temperatures are another indicator of the growing impact of climate change on the European continent. /CNA