Tens of millions of residents are facing a grueling weekend of extreme temperatures as a lethal heatwave shifts across Europe. While Western Europe may see slight relief by Sunday, forecasters in Germany have cautioned that further temperature records could be broken, as nations in the east issue a wave of red alerts for the days ahead.
Analysis from AFP indicates that nearly 200 million people were exposed to temperatures exceeding 35C on Saturday. This unprecedented period of intense heat, which has already shattered previous records in Britain, France, and Switzerland, continues to impact large portions of the continent.
In France, Health Minister Stephanie Rist confirmed that the country is experiencing a higher-than-normal number of fatalities linked to the heat. Rist noted that early indicators suggest mortality rates will likely surpass those seen during the same period last year. Meanwhile, Spain previously reported that the ongoing heatwave could be connected to 212 deaths over a four-day duration.
Emergency services are feeling the strain, with hospitals in Paris reporting that emergency room visits were 36 percent higher than usual on Friday and Saturday. Similarly, Vienna officials indicated that their emergency services were 15 percent busier and had deployed additional staff to handle the influx.
Numerous public gatherings have been impacted by the conditions, with street parties and music festivals cancelled across France, Germany, and the Netherlands, although a Pride March proceeded in Budapest. The German Weather Service issued a red alert for most of the nation on Saturday, recording an all-time high of 41.5C in the eastern part of the country, with officials noting that temperatures could climb even higher.
Record-breaking temperatures were also reported in Denmark, which recorded its hottest-ever temperature twice in one afternoon near Aarhus, reaching 37C. The Czech Republic similarly hit a record 40.8C north of Prague, and officials there expect peaks near 41C on Sunday. In Switzerland, Basel reached 39C, marking the third consecutive day of record-breaking June heat.
While the number of French departments under the highest red alert is set to decrease from 37 to 24 by Sunday morning, the relief is arriving alongside thunderstorms. These storms caused significant travel disruption, with more than 800 flights delayed or cancelled at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports on Saturday.
Additional safety measures have been implemented, including the closure of parks in Paris and the cancellation of a rock festival in Bordeaux. Brussels police also evacuated a music festival due to the conditions. Scientists attribute these recurring, more intense heatwaves to global warming resulting from the human use of fossil fuels. Experts describe the phenomenon as a trapped “heat dome” of air arriving from North Africa.
New red alerts have been issued in Romania and Slovakia, while Hungary and Moldova remain on the highest alert level. In the Bratislava region, authorities reported that six people drowned in lakes and swimming pools between Friday and Saturday. France also reported 74 drownings since June 18, mostly involving individuals entering unsupervised bodies of water to cool off. Despite the widespread cancellations, some events continue, with the Berlin Philharmonic proceeding with its outdoor concert while relaxing dress codes for attendees.
