A searing and prolonged heat wave has gripped large areas of western and Central Europe, with forecasters issuing high-level heat warnings as temperatures threaten to shatter June records.
Here’s what to know.
How hot will it get?
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Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland are all under top-level heat warnings. The most intense conditions are forecast across parts of Britain, France and Spain, where temperatures could reach or exceed 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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France recorded its hottest day ever on Tuesday, according to the country’s weather agency, Météo-France, which said the average temperature across the country’s 30 weather stations had reached 29.8 degrees Celsius, or about 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest temperature recorded was 44.3 Celsius, or about 112 Fahrenheit, in Pissos in southwest France. Forecasters said Paris could reach 40 Celsius this week, which would be unprecedented for June.
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Spain’s weather service, AEMET, said that temperatures were expected to remain “extremely high” through Wednesday, with highs of 40 Celsius or more across large areas. The service said that at least six locations exceeded that on Monday, with a peak of 45.1 Celsius, or 113.2 Fahrenheit, in Andújar, southern Spain. Temperatures are expected to ease slightly starting Wednesday, with a notable drop on Thursday, forecasters said.
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An amber heat warning, the second-highest level, is already in force for much of England and Wales. On Tuesday, forecasters with Britain’s weather service, the Met Office, said that temperatures could rise to 36 Celsius, nearly 97 Fahrenheit, challenging the country’s maximum recorded June temperature of 35.6 Celsius, set in 1976. A rare red warning for extreme heat, the highest level, will come into effect on Wednesday for parts of Wales and central and southern England, including London, with temperatures expected to reach highs of 38 to 40 Celsius (around 100 to 104 Fahrenheit). If 40 is reached, that would be the hottest day ever recorded this early in a year. The only time temperatures have reached that level in Britain since records began in 1884 was in July 2022, when 40.3 Celsius was recorded in Lincolnshire, eastern England.
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:
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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.
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