Large parts of Europe are in a state of emergency as a ferocious heatwave sweeps across the continent, forcing authorities to issue urgent warnings. The extreme heat has already claimed the lives of three people in France, who died from serious health complications linked to the soaring temperatures.
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At the same time, the extreme conditions are upending the daily lives of millions of people, with around 2,700 French schools suspending classes or drastically modifying their schedules to protect students.
Half of France on red alert as temperatures hit 42°C
The situation in France is considered particularly critical. According to forecasts, temperatures in Bordeaux, in the southwest of the country, are expected to exceed 42 degrees Celsius. In response to the threat, France’s national meteorological service Meteo France placed a total of 49 administrative departments under the highest level of danger, issuing a red alert.
HEAT RELIEF 💧: As France experiences scorching heat, the Eiffel Tower is taking steps to keep their guests safe by utilizing mist sprayers. There is currently an Extreme High Temperature Warning in effect for the area. #France #travel #heat #foxweather pic.twitter.com/23rQlLsszd
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) June 22, 2026
“We are heading toward at least several days of very, very hot weather. We don’t know when temperatures will start to drop,” French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told TV channel TF1.
Historic records and scorching temperatures in Spain
The weather picture on the Iberian Peninsula is equally alarming. Spain’s national meteorological agency (Aemet) issued a red alert for the Basque Country. The biblical scale of the heat is underscored by forecasts showing the thermometer in San Sebastián could reach 40 degrees Celsius — a temperature that, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor, is nearly double the historic average recorded in that region at this time of year.
“We are seeing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this time of year, and in some northern areas even more than 10 degrees above average,” said Rubén del Campo, a spokesperson for Aemet.
Relief at night is minimal in some parts of Spain, with temperatures failing to drop below 25 or even 30 degrees Celsius in places such as the southwestern province of Almería, Aemet announced.
Heatwave strikes Italy
Italy is also battling a severe heatwave. According to meteorologists, the intense heat is set to continue battering the country at least through the first days of July.
As reported in the press, temperatures are running up to ten degrees higher than the average for the final ten days of June. By mid-week, the thermometer is expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius in areas including the island of Sardinia, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, as well as inland areas of central Italy. Overnight humidity levels remain very high, and municipal authorities across the country have published online lists of parks and air-conditioned indoor spaces where residents can find some relief, along with water and shade.
The heatwave has also caused a dramatic drop in the water level of the Po, Italy’s longest river, which has nearly run dry in many stretches over recent days.
Europe on high alert
Europe is currently the continent where temperatures are deviating the most from normal, with an average high of 24 degrees Celsius — that is, 4.1 degrees Celsius above the baseline recorded for the period from 1961 to 1990 — according to the Reuters Climate Monitor, a real-time digital tool tracking the impacts of climate change.
A powerful heatwave is sweeping across Europe, bringing temperatures close to 40°C and prompting widespread health warnings in Spain, Italy, and France.
The soaring temperatures are also taking a severe toll on wildlife. pic.twitter.com/737M9KYuik
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 21, 2026
By comparison, Asia and North America are running 2 degrees Celsius and 1.3 degrees Celsius above normal, respectively.
Wildlife sanctuaries in northern Europe are struggling to cope with the surging number of animals suffering from the heat. Birds such as swifts, swallows, sparrows and starlings — which nest under roof eaves — have been particularly hard hit by the abnormally high temperatures, according to Romain de Jéger, a biologist and founder of CREAVES, a wildlife rescue centre in Temploux, Belgium.
“The temperature on rooftops can sometimes reach 50, even 60 degrees Celsius. So they prefer to jump rather than die and literally be cooked alive in their nests,” de Jéger told Reuters, adding that the sanctuary had taken in 150 animals over the past three days.
