Heatwave conditions that have left Spain, France and the UK sweltering for days are moving east, with forecasters in Germany and the Czech Republic issuing extremes warnings.
Temperatures in Germany could top 40°C in western and south‑western pockets this Thursday, rising nationwide on Friday. An extreme weather warning now covers much of the Czech Republic.
In France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a surge to the highest health alert level, activating extra hospital staff and safeguarding vulnerable citizens.
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist reported deaths of young people and elderly linked to the extreme temperatures.
United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell described Europe’s savage heatwave as a clear fingerprint of the climate crisis, urging a rapid shift to renewables, forest protection and climate resilience.
France’s second consecutive record‑hot day followed a 27.2°C in Nantes. Météo‑France cited an average low of 22°C on Wednesday night, with the country’s North‑West heating to unprecedented levels.
Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire warned that mortality rates were climbing, calling for a pause on outside exercise for the youth.
Three-year‑old deaths in the Paris region, along with earlier tragedies in Carpentras, tie back to the extreme heat, with Rennes emergency doctor Louis Soulas linking six domestic deaths to the surge.
Rennes recorded 40.6°C on Monday, breaking the previous 2022 record, and the following day it reached 41°C. Intensive care units were saturated and the French Orsan health emergency plan shifted to level three.
Consequentially, three nuclear plants across France went offline.
Climate change is driving temperatures double the global average, sparking intensified heatwaves, greater water stress and wildfires—over 1 million hectares burned across Europe last year.
Germany’s DWD system noted that southwestern Bad Bergzabern didn’t fall below 26.2°C on Wednesday night, matching the 2019 record.
Luxembourg registered its highest June temp of 38.3°C at Wormeldingen, extending a red alert for extreme thermal stress until Saturday night.
Germany’s Hamburg half marathon was cancelled; Deutsche Bahn offered free ticket cancellations; Czech Railways advised passengers to postpone trips if possible.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warned of temperatures climbing to 40°C over the weekend. Austrian Vienna could also see 40°C on the weekend.
The UK Met Office extended its red extreme heat warning until Friday evening for London and southeast England.
Florence’s Uffizi museum paused ticket sales until 28 June, citing temperature spikes of 32 °C inside the building.
Continued high temperatures were expected across Italy, with 40 °C at several northern regions on Monday and nights not falling below 29 °C.
