In brief
The summer heatwave that is already reaching more than 40°C in many parts of western and central Europe has triggered red heat alerts in France, Spain and Italy, and similar warnings across Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg. In France, half the country is under the highest warning level, schools are closing, the SNCF urges people in vulnerable zones not to travel, and the government has banned alcohol at the Fête de la Musique to protect emergency services. The extreme temperatures are linked to a spike in river and lake drownings, with two young children found dead in a car in Carpentras and 13 others drowning over the weekend. Nationwide forecasts keep temperatures above normal until the end of the week, and authorities warn that the heat will be long‑lasting and intense.
Red heat alerts issued in France, Italy and Spain as 40°C temperatures forecast
The summer heatwave that is already reaching more than 40°C in many parts of western and central Europe has triggered red heat alerts in France, Spain and Italy, and similar warnings across Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
In France, half the country is under the highest warning level. Météo‑France has closed 845 schools and urged pupils to finish classes early while continuing to hold the nationwide baccalaureate exams. France’s national railway operator SNCF warned vulnerable passengers to avoid or postpone travel in hot conditions. The French government has also banned alcohol at the annual Fête de la Musique, an action meant to protect emergency and healthcare services.
The extreme temperatures have already led to tragedies. Two children, aged two and four, were found dead in a car in Carpentras after a post‑shopping trip; the local prosecutor believes the heat played a role. In the week’s first two days, 13 people drowned in rivers or lakes across the country. Italy’s red alerts cover cities such as Milan, Turin and Rome, and five people were killed in German swimming accidents during similarly hot conditions.
A map of Europe shows the expected temperature highs for Wednesday, with 41°C forecast for Paris and up to 44°C in some Spanish regions. The heat is described by forecasters as “widespread, long‑lasting and intense”, and temperatures are not expected to drop until the end of the week.
Alongside the red alerts, agitation for public safety continues. In Spain’s Basque country, San Sebastián is expected to reach 40°C, while most of the rest of the country is forecasted between 36°C and 40°C. Across the continent, many local governments have already taken precautionary measures, such as closing major motorways for wild‑fire risk or canceling peak‑hour train services in Belgium.
The heatwave underscores how the frequency of extreme weather situations is a marker of global warming. Météo‑France’s records show that since 1947, France has experienced 51 heatwaves, but 34 have occurred since 2000 and 26 since 2011.
