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Europes record heatwave surges east as Germany sets new national temperature record
Europe braces for historic June heatwave as temperatures soar past 42C
Europe’s record-shattering heatwave surged east on Saturday, as Germany confirmed a new national temperature record of 41.3°C near Saarbrücken, shattering the previous high of 40.3°C set in 2019 . The German Weather Service reported the provisional figure on Friday, marking the latest in a cascade of national records broken across Europe this week. Nearly 200 million people across the continent faced temperatures above 35°C, with the heatwave now pushing toward Poland, where authorities warned of peaks reaching 40°C .
France, the epicenter of the crisis earlier in the week, reported at least four child deaths linked to the heat, while Paris authorities banned alcohol consumption in public spaces and postponed the city’s Pride March . The French health ministry activated emergency plans as hospitals struggled with a surge in heat-related admissions. In Germany, emergency services in Cologne were stretched to capacity, with firefighters and paramedics responding to heat exhaustion cases across the city .
The heatwave has also disrupted critical infrastructure. In France, a transformer failure linked to the extreme temperatures left around 50,000 households without power, while in Germany, sections of the Autobahn buckled under the strain, forcing lane closures . The Golfech nuclear plant in France faced operational challenges, raising concerns about energy security amid soaring demand for cooling systems .
Scientists warn that such events are becoming the new normal. A study by World Weather Attribution found that the current heatwave is the most severe ever recorded in Europe, with climate change making such extreme temperatures significantly more likely . Climatologist Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, former vice-chair of the IPCC, cautioned that without drastic reductions in global CO₂ emissions, future heatwaves would likely be even more extreme .
As the heatwave moves east, meteorologists predict that thunderstorms could bring temporary relief to some regions by Sunday, though temperatures in Central and Eastern Europe are expected to remain dangerously high through the weekend . Authorities across the continent have urged residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable neighbors. The crisis has underscored Europe’s persistent vulnerability to extreme weather, despite repeated warnings from climate scientists.
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