Europe Swelters as Heatwaves Push Temperatures to Great Highs

Written by: Sitara Nair

Countries across Europe have been experiencing extreme heat this past week, especially Germany, France, and the UK. Keep reading to learn more about this European heatwave.

July and August are often the hottest months in Europe, while temperatures vary significantly by region, most places average between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. However, this past week temperatures might hit up to (but not limited to) 38 °C in London, and 40 °C in Paris for up to three days in a row, according to Yale Climate Connections. Additionally, humidity is expected to be especially high, which prevents sweat from evaporating (the body’s primary method of cooling itself). For that reason, the high humidity is also expected to raise countries' heat indexes (measures of how hot the air actually feels to the human body) to levels never seen before. 

The country facing some of the harshest weather is France, where temperatures are reaching 40 °C or higher. France is under an Extreme High Temperature Warning, warning all citizens, especially the elderly, people suffering from chronic diseases or from mental health troubles, people who regularly take medicine, and people who are isolated. Citizens are being warned specifically to wear hats and light coverings to prevent heatstroke or even to wet their bodies multiple times a day using a spray, washcloth, shower, bath, etc…

Unfortunately, the weather is a real danger to many, taking the lives of two children aged four and two. This occurred in a hot family car in south-eastern France, and sadly wasn’t the only casualty from the heat. These two deaths come after “those of three elderly people, aged between 80 and 95, who died ⁠near Bordeaux over the weekend as a result of health problems caused by the extreme temperatures, an official said” according to the Guardian.

This heat isn’t new to Europe, though, as throughout 2026 the continent as a whole has been facing extreme temperatures. According to CNN Climate, the continent is grappling with a powerful heat dome, which in simpler words, is a large area of high pressure that traps hot air over a region, causing temperatures to stay extremely high for days or even weeks.

Another dangerous part of these heatwaves is due to how nights aren’t cooling down. Typically, we are able to recover from extreme temperatures like this overnight, but currently, many places are experiencing tropical nights (temperatures staying above 20 degrees Celsius).  Additionally, unlike much of the southern United States, many homes, schools, and apartments in Europe were designed to keep heat in during cold winters, instead of out during extreme summers. This way, heat can get trapped, leading to such a high heat index. 

Extreme heat also causes significant dangers. For one, it raises the risk of wildfires due to the dry conditions, and authorities have warned citizens to avoid using sparklers or other fire-risk materials for the time being. It also worsens drought by drying out soil and vegetation, as well as increasing electricity demand (as people are using electrical devices to cool down), putting pressure on power grids. And as a general concern, extreme heat makes air pollution (especially ozone) more severe. 

There is also a significant long-term concern about the consistently abnormally high temperatures we are seeing currently. As greenhouse gas emissions warm the planet, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and reaching higher temperatures. Europe is warming about twice as fast as the global average, making record-breaking heat increasingly common. These extreme temperatures dry out soil, damage crops, and reduce water supplies, threatening agriculture and raising food prices. Hot, dry conditions also increase the risk of devastating wildfires across southern Europe. In cities, concrete and asphalt trap heat, making urban areas even hotter and preventing buildings from cooling down overnight. Overall, scientists warn that, without reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting infrastructure, these dangerous heatwaves will continue to become more intense, more frequent, and more costly.