Another heat wave is taking grip of Europe this week. The continent’s third spell of scorching weather since May, the heat spells have disrupted daily life, contributed to a rise in deaths and are posing significant wildfire danger in some countries.
The latest is driven by a new heat dome, the same weather pattern responsible for the previous two heat waves. Temperatures are expected to climb as much as 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) above average across parts of western Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France and Britain.
In France, a wildfire in the Pyrenees mountain range area bordering Spain, has already burned more than 11,000 acres and forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate from nearly 30 villages and towns, the authorities said on Monday. Other wildfires tore through parts of Spain’s Mediterranean coast over the weekend, forcing some 500 people to evacuate.
Here’s what to know.
Europe is facing extreme fire conditions.
Although temperatures are not expected to reach the exceptional levels of the June heat wave, which were exacerbated by human-made climate change, forecasters warn that the relentless heat spells are creating an unprecedented wildfire danger in some countries, with extensive high-level warnings already in place.
The blaze in France’s Pyrenees, has rapidly expanded since Sunday evening. More than 2,000 firefighters joined the effort to bring it under control and firefighting jets were trying to put out the flames.
Very extreme fire weather conditions cover a broad swath of western and central Europe according to the European Forest Fire Information System, particularly across France, Spain and Portugal, central Europe around the Alps and the southern British Isles.
How hot will it get?
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High-level heat warnings were in place across parts of Andorra, France, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
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In Portugal, eastern parts of the country were under the highest-level heat warnings on Monday. IPMA, the country’s weather service, said temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius (around 108 degrees Fahrenheit) were possible, although showers and thunderstorms were also a risk.
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AEMET, Spain’s national weather service, said the extreme heat was expected to last through at least Wednesday, with temperatures ranging from the high 30s Celsius to the mid-40s. The highest temperatures are expected on Tuesday, with a maximum of 44 Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) possible in southern Valencia.
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France is also expecting high temperatures this week, with the hottest conditions forecast from the southwest to the lower Rhone Valley, Météo-France, the country’s weather service said. The heat is expected to persist through the end of the week, the agency added.
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Britain will also see temperatures climb well above average. The Met Office, the country’s weather service, said highs of 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) were possible in southern England. The very warm conditions are expected to continue into the weekend, accompanied by increasing humidity and a growing risk of thunderstorms, the service added.
Europe is heating up fast.
While tying a single heat wave to climate change requires specific attribution studies, scientists are certain that heat waves around the world are generally 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 Europe Is Heating Up Again, Posing a Big Fire Risk appeared first on New York Times.
