Europe melts: schools close, transport reduced, dozens of victims
In Britain on Wednesday more than a thousand schools were closed or finished classes before noon; daytime temperatures in some areas of England reached a record 36 degrees for June.
In France the hottest day since observations began in 1947 was recorded.
The UK Met Office began issuing extreme heat warnings only in 2021. Since then a red danger level has been declared for only the second time.
The first such warning was issued in July 2022, when the country set an absolute temperature record of 40.3°C.
When issuing weather warnings, the Met Office takes into account two key factors: how likely a dangerous weather event is to occur and how serious its consequences may be.
A red level is declared when the probability of an extreme event is high and its impact on the population and infrastructure could be significant. Exactly this situation is developing now.
Forecasters warn of health risks to the population, including the most vulnerable groups, as well as the likelihood of serious disruptions to the energy system and transport infrastructure.
National Rail, Britain’s national rail operator, is asking passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Due to high temperatures, several rail companies have adjusted train schedules.
In Wales rail service has been canceled completely at least until the end of Wednesday, but operator Transport for Wales does not guarantee resumption of service on Thursday.
On Tuesday France recorded the hottest June day in the history of meteorological observations: the national average temperature reached 29.8°C. Air temperatures in Paris and other cities exceeded 40 degrees.
In addition, the warmest June night on record was set in the early hours of Monday. According to Météo-France, the average minimum temperature was 21.6°C.
More than half of France is currently under a red weather danger level. Météo-France said the red regime would extend to four more regions from noon Wednesday.
Thus 58 French regions will be living under the maximum warning, and an orange danger level will be in effect for another 31 regions.
In the west of the country, in Brittany, tens of thousands of homes were left without electricity. Meanwhile a major forest fire in the Maine-et-Loire department was brought under control last night.
Since Monday about 40 people, including children, have died from the abnormal heat in various regions of France. Some drowned while trying to escape the heat in bodies of water.
“This should not be taken lightly and people should not go swimming in unequipped places during such heat,” warned Minister of Sports and Youth Marina Ferrari on French radio.
In Spain temperatures in some parts of the country could exceed 40°C. On the third day of the abnormal temperatures a red danger level has been declared in Andalusia in the south of the country as well as in Cantabria and the Basque Country in the north.
On Tuesday a temperature of 43.7°C was recorded in the municipality of Tama in Cantabria — an absolute temperature record for the region regardless of the time of year, the state meteorological service AEMET reported.
Spain is considered one of the European countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. According to AEMET, June heat waves are becoming more frequent. Between 2000 and 2025 ten June heat waves were recorded on the mainland, whereas in the previous 25 years there were only two.
