Europe Endures Record-Breaking Heat Wave Across Multiple Countries
A heat wave set new temperature records in several European nations, prompting infrastructure disruptions, health alerts and heightened concerns about climate change.
Temperatures across central and eastern Europe reached historic highs on Saturday, with national meteorological services reporting record values in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark and other countries. Denmark’s Meteorological Institute logged 37 °C in Ødum, the highest temperature since records began in 1874, while Basel, Switzerland, recorded 38.8 °C. The Czech town of Doksany saw 40.8 °C, and parts of Germany approached 40 °C, causing concrete to crack on the A2 Autobahn and leading to temporary road closures.
Deutsche Bahn warned against non-essential train travel, stating that “Germany’s transportation infrastructure is being severely affected by the record-breaking heat this weekend.” In western Germany, a nursing home in Dormagen was evacuated after indoor temperatures rose to 35 °C; a resident died, though the cause remains under investigation.
France’s eastern regions also experienced temperatures above 40 °C, keeping Paris and 36 other areas in the extreme-heat red zone. The Paris public hospital system activated its emergency response plan, reporting nearly 3,000 emergency visits, about one-third above normal. The heightened strain led to the postponement of the Paris Pride march and the cancellation of a three-day music festival.
In the United Kingdom, an amber heat warning remained in place as the country recorded its hottest June day on record, 37.3 °C in eastern England, surpassing the previous June record set in 1976. Authorities reported four heat-related deaths this week and issued safety advisories for swimming in unsupervised waters.
Italy’s health ministry placed 18 cities, including major tourist destinations, under red alerts, prompting locals and visitors to seek shade and purchase water and other cooling supplies.
A study by the World Weather Attribution network concluded that the extreme heat and humidity would have been highly unlikely without climate change, estimating the event to be 200 times more probable today than two decades ago. André Corrêa do Lago, president of the U.N. climate talks COP30, said the heat wave underscores the urgency of climate action.