A relentless heatwave is sweeping across Europe, prompting widespread health warnings and shattering temperature records in multiple countries.
Southern Spain has been hit hardest, with the town of El Granado recording 46°C, the highest June temperature ever documented in the country. Spain’s national weather service reports this month is on course to become the hottest June on record.
Red-level heat alerts remain in effect in parts of Portugal, Italy, and Croatia, while amber warnings have been issued across much of Western and Central Europe, including France, Austria, Belgium, and Hungary.
In Barcelona, a road sweeper died after working in extreme heat, sparking a local investigation. In Italy, hospitals are seeing a surge in heatstroke cases, primarily among the elderly and vulnerable populations. Naples has introduced fast-track emergency pathways for heat-related illnesses, while cities like Bologna and Rome have opened air-conditioned shelters and free public pool access to help residents cope.
In Lisbon, Portuguese health workers continue to warn against outdoor activity during peak heat, though heatstroke and burn cases have already been reported.
The western Balkans are also suffering under extreme temperatures. Serbia reported its highest-ever temperature since records began, while Slovenia and North Macedonia both hit historic June highs, with the latter reaching 42°C.
Temperatures are expected to climb further into midweek, with France, Germany, Italy, and the UK all bracing for intensifying conditions.
London could see highs of 35°C by Monday, with yellow and amber alerts already in place across southern England.
The heatwave is being driven by a persistent area of high pressure and dry descending air, causing temperatures to steadily build. As the system moves eastward, the heat is expected to spread further north and east.
While no single weather event can be solely attributed to climate change, scientists at World Weather Attribution say that heatwaves with sustained temperatures above 28°C are now about ten times more likely than they were in pre-industrial times underscoring the growing influence of global warming on Europe’s weather extremes.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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