Europe Is Expecting Record-Breaking Temperatures. Here’s What to Know.

Big parts of Europe are under high-level warnings for extreme heat this week, with forecasters predicting record-breaking June temperatures across the region and “severe” weather impact.

Here’s what to know.

How hot will it get?

Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Germany are all under high-level heat warnings. The most intense conditions are forecast in big parts of France, Spain, England and Wales, where temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
In France, forecasters said Paris could hit 40 Celsius this week, which would be unprecedented for June. More than half of the country is under a red alert for heat wave conditions, the highest level. France’s weather agency, Météo-France, said “exceptionally high temperatures, both day and night,” were expected. Parts of central France could endure highs of 43 degrees Celsius, or around 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
In Spain, the country’s weather service, AEMET, said temperatures were expected to reach 40 Celsius across large areas, with highs up to 44 Celsius, or 111 degrees Fahrenheit, for central and southern regions on Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to ease slightly from Wednesday onward, with a notable drop on Thursday, forecasters said.
Britain’s weather service, the Met Office, issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, the highest level, for Wednesday morning through Thursday night for parts of Wales and central and southern England, including London. If temperatures reach 40 Celsius, it would be the hottest day ever for this early in the year. The only time temperatures reached that level in Britain since records began was in July 2022, when a high of 40.3 degrees Celsius was recorded in Lincolnshire, eastern England. The current highest temperature on record for Britain in June is 35.6 degrees Celsius (96 degrees Fahrenheit).
The extreme heat in central and western Europe began in the middle of last week and was expected to persist through at least Thursday, though that will depend on how weather patterns evolve in the coming days. This episode of extreme heat comes not long after a heat wave in May that broke records for so early in the year. France’s weather service noted that such heat waves were becoming increasingly frequent because of a changing climate.

Europe is 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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.