Europe braces for record heat as deadly wave grips France and Britain

France recorded its hottest day ever on Tuesday as the national thermal indicator climbed to 29.2 C and Météo-France placed 54 departments under red heat-wave alert, covering about half the country. The surge in temperatures came as Britain’s Met Office kept a rare Red Extreme Heat Warning in place for Wednesday and Thursday, warning that June’s all-time daily record could be broken.

The heat wave has already become a public-safety emergency. Reuters reported 40 drowning deaths in France over recent days as people rushed to lakes, rivers and beaches to cool off, and at least 18 people had died earlier in the week, including two children left in a hot car. French authorities also imposed a partial alcohol ban in red-alert areas, a sign of how quickly ordinary summer habits have become risky in the current conditions.

Schools, transport networks and tourist sites have also been forced to adapt. Across Britain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, officials issued alerts or restrictions as the heat spread across the continent. Spain and Germany canceled or postponed sports events, while Britain warned of “tropical nights” that can prevent homes from cooling down overnight and increase strain on health systems, especially for older adults and people with chronic illness.

Paris has become a visible example of the disruption. The Eiffel Tower restricted access or closed parts of operations as temperatures rose, and local authorities have leaned on measures that reflect the growing need to manage public space in extreme heat, not just tolerate it. The wave has arrived early in the season, adding pressure to rail services, schools and workplaces that are often built for a milder climate than the one Europe is now facing.

The broader climate backdrop is stark. The European Commission and Copernicus describe Europe as the world’s fastest-warming continent, and the World Meteorological Organization says the region is heating at about twice the global average. A Copernicus-backed climate report found that at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average temperatures in 2025, underscoring how widespread the warming trend has become.

That context is turning each new heat wave into a test of preparedness. Recent European summers have already produced deadly extremes and thousands of excess deaths, and this episode is reviving questions about whether hospitals, schools, transport operators and local governments are ready for recurring heat that is arriving earlier, lasting longer and hitting harder each year.