Europe braces for historic June heatwave as temperatures surge past 40C

Story Timeline
2 months · 3 summary articles
Europes record heatwave surges east as Germany sets new high of 41.3C
Follow-upEurope braces for historic June heatwave as temperatures surge past 40C
Europe braces for extreme heatwave as temperatures surge toward 40C
Follow-up
Europe is gripped by a historic heatwave as temperatures soar above 40°C across swathes of the continent, with forecasters warning the extreme conditions will persist through the week. France has placed 49 departments on red alert for Monday, the highest level of heat warning, as Météo-France predicts peaks of 41°C in the south-western Gironde and Landes regions . The government announced that 53 million people—nearly 80% of the population—are under heat alerts, with temperatures expected to remain elevated until at least the end of the week .
The heat dome stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe shows no signs of abating. In Austria, the Geosphere forecasting service projects Friday highs of 37°C, while Germany’s Hesse region anticipates 39°C on Wednesday . Sweden’s meteorological agency, SMHI, has warned of the country’s first major heatwave of the year, with temperatures exceeding 30°C in parts of the south . Norway’s public broadcaster NRK reported that Østlandet could face a heatwave by next week .
Health authorities across the continent are bracing for the strain on emergency services. In the Czech Republic, rescue workers in the Ústecký region have already recorded an increased number of calls, while public health officials have intensified inspections of natural swimming sites to prevent waterborne illnesses . Hungary’s meteorological service has issued warnings of extreme UV-B radiation on Monday, urging residents to limit sun exposure .
Climate scientists are drawing parallels with the devastating August 2003 heatwave, which killed more than 15,000 people in France alone, primarily among the elderly . The current episode, arriving in June rather than mid-summer, has raised concerns about preparedness and the accelerating frequency of extreme weather events. French Environment Minister Mathieu Lefèvre stated that no temperature drop is expected before the weekend .
Local authorities are advising residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable neighbours. In the Netherlands, the national weather service KNMI has urged people to stock up on water, sunscreen, and parasols as temperatures climb toward 37°C . The heatwave, coinciding with the summer solstice, is delivering 16 hours of sunlight in some regions, intensifying the thermal load.
Follow us for live European news
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
2 further sources not geolocated








