Europe braces for record heat as France calls crisis talks

Europe’s latest heatwave became a test of government readiness as France moved into crisis mode, Germany spread warnings across most of the country, and Italy issued its first red alerts of the year. Forecasters said the hottest conditions were building toward Monday, with parts of France facing 39C to 40C and some areas possibly touching 41C.

In France, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was due to hold crisis talks as Météo-France extended orange heatwave alerts to 53 departments starting Friday at noon. Public-health officials said 17 departments in five regions had already been placed under orange alert earlier in the month, affecting about 26% of France’s resident population for at least one day. Météo-France said the episode could rival the severe heatwaves of 2003 and 2019, two disasters still central to Europe’s memory of how quickly extreme heat can turn lethal.

The strain was not limited to France. Germany’s weather service covered most of the country with heat warnings as temperatures approached 38C, while also warning that the heat and humidity could trigger severe thunderstorms. In Italy, the health ministry issued a red heatwave alert for Rome, Florence, Bologna, Brescia and Turin, the first red alert of 2026, warning that extreme heat could affect even healthy and active people.

The scene on the ground showed how the crisis reached into daily life. Tourists queued in the harsh sun outside the Colosseum, residents sought shade under Rome’s historic arches, and people in Bologna splashed water on their faces at the Fountain of Neptune. Farther north, people in Warsaw looked for relief by the Vistula River. Paris authorities kept parks open around the clock to help residents cope as the heat pressed on crowded streets and public spaces.

The economic stakes were just as clear. Climate scientists say heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as climate change advances, and Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin said the short-term effects on growth were “somewhat ambiguous” because hotter weather can reduce productivity while increasing energy use. He warned that over time, heatwaves weigh on economic activity, a reminder that Europe’s hottest days are now a recurring public-safety and economic threat, not a passing seasonal anomaly.