Temperatures in Europe are expected to break records as the continent endures its second severe heat wave in two months.
Urgent heat warnings have been issued in more than a dozen countries. That includes France, which on Tuesday had its hottest day on record — not just for June, but for any time of year — and where power grid failures have left more than 60,000 homes without electricity. Britain said its June record of 35.6 Celsius, or 96 Fahrenheit, was likely to be broken on Wednesday.
As global temperatures rise, Europe has been warming faster than any other continent, and officials have scrambled to react to heat waves that are increasingly intense and happen earlier in the year. Making matters worse, most buildings in some European countries are not equipped with air-conditioning, and schools are no exception.
Here’s what to know.
How hot will it get?
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Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland are all under high-level heat warnings.
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France’s weather agency, Météo-France, said temperatures were expected to continue reaching “exceptionally high levels” on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs climbing above 40 Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit. More than half of the country is under the highest-level heat alert through Thursday.
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Spain’s weather service, AEMET, said temperatures were expected to remain high on Wednesday, especially in the north, where highs up to 41 Celsius, about 106 Fahrenheit, were forecast. At least 10 locations exceeded 42 Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. Forecasters said cooler Atlantic air would arrive on Thursday, bringing a drop in temperatures.
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A rare red extreme heat warning, the highest level, was in effect across large parts of Britain on Wednesday. The Met Office, Britain’s weather service, said hot and humid conditions were expected to intensify, pushing temperatures across central and southern England, and southern Wales, up to 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) on Thursday.
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Much of Italy has been affected by above-normal temperatures. The Ministry of Health has issued red heat warnings, the highest level, for more than half of Italian cities on Wednesday and Thursday. Highs of up to 37 Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) were expected in Florence and Milan. Germany is also sweltering. The country’s weather service, the Deutscher Wetterdienst, said conditions were becoming increasingly hot, especially from Friday onward. The service said temperatures could peak at 41 Celsius (close to 106 Fahrenheit) on Saturday.
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Forecasters said temperatures were expected to gradually return to more seasonal levels across Western Europe starting Friday. However, countries in Eastern Europe were bracing for a scorching weekend, with temperatures expected to climb into the high 30s Celsius by Sunday.
How is the heat affecting people’s lives?
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At least 40 people drowned in France in the past week, officials said. Many were teenagers swimming in unsupervised areas. Marina Ferrari, a government minister whose responsibilities include young people, said in a radio interview on Tuesday that the drownings were mostly in bodies of water such as lakes or canals. “During heat waves like this,” she said, “it’s no small matter to go swimming in areas that aren’t supervised.”
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In Britain, National Rail warned passengers on Wednesday to travel only if necessary. Multiple routes in the south of the country were affected, including in and around London.
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In France, 68,000 homes were without electricity on Wednesday after power grids failed, the national network, RTE, said on social media. During heat waves, every degree hotter leads to one megawatt more of electricity consumption because of air-conditioning needs, the company said.
Europe has been heating up fast.
While tying a single heat wave to climate change requires extensive analysis, scientists have no doubt that heat waves around the world are becoming hotter, more frequent and longer-lasting, and Europe is warming faster than any other continent.
In 2025, almost the entire continent was hotter than normal. Researchers estimate that in recent years, Europe has seen tens of thousands of heat-related deaths annually.
Many homes, schools and businesses across Europe were built for an older, cooler climate. In Britain, many were even built to retain heat, making cooling off amid heat waves especially difficult. Air-conditioning is not a quick fix. In France, installing such systems has become a political flashpoint, while in Britain, high energy prices deter many.
Even in hotter Mediterranean cities, where old-fashioned courtyards, heavy shutters and white-stone facades can keep homes cool, many newer buildings have been constructed using techniques that trap heat.
How to cool off.
Staying cool and hydrating often are the two most important things to do to avoid feeling sick and discomfort in extreme heat. Here are some other ways to keep cool:
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Block out the windows in your home — especially those that get afternoon sun — with a blanket or a darker sheet during the day to keep the heat out. At night, keep windows open and run fans to circulate the air.
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Spritz your skin with a mist of cool or room-temperature water or wipe your forehead with a cool cloth. Cold showers can also help you cool down.
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If you need to be outdoors, put ice cubes in your water bottle and drink cool liquids. If you plan to exercise, douse your head in cold water. Swimming is also a great way to exercise and keep cool.
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When exploring or sightseeing, seek out cooler attractions such as museums, cathedrals or even subterranean exhibitions. Some cities have created public spaces to cool down: Barcelona has climate shelters and Paris has drinking fountains, for example. London has a Cool Spaces map to find spots.
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Watch out for signs of heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists some of them as dizziness, a rapid pulse, nausea, headache and fainting. But symptoms can vary.
The post The Heat Wave in Europe Is Breaking Records. Here’s What to Know. appeared first on New York Times.
