Europe Heatwave Continues; France Sees Hottest Day, UK Eyes 39C

2026-06-23

A heatwave has hit Europe again. France recorded its hottest day on record on the 23rd, with record highs logged across the country. In Britain, temperatures are forecast to rise to 39C on the 24th and 25th, with warnings intensifying across countries.

Record Heat in France

According to Meteo-France, the average temperature across 30 locations in the country reached 29.8C at 5 p.m. on the 23rd, a record high. Highest temperatures were revised up across the country, including 42.1C in Bordeaux in the southwest.

A strong high-pressure system blanketed Europe, and a phenomenon known as a heat dome, in which warm air becomes trapped, has occurred for a second straight month. Severe heat has continued in France, Spain and Italy, among others.

The French prime minister's office held a crisis response meeting on the 23rd and decided to strengthen medical support in response to a sharp rise in people feeling unwell. On the 24th, a red alert, the highest heatwave warning, was in effect for 58 departments, equal to 60% of mainland France.

According to the French government's tally, the number of drowning deaths since June 18 has reached 40. Many were young people believed to have been bathing in an attempt to escape the heat.

The extreme heat is also affecting economic activity. According to French media, state-run utility EDF halted operations at Unit 2 of the Golfech nuclear plant in southwest France on the night of the 22nd because water temperatures in the Garonne River used for cooling had risen.

Fashion Week began in Paris on the 23rd, and Dior Homme, under LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, changed the timing of its outdoor show. The Eiffel Tower brought forward its closing time to 4 p.m. on the 23rd, while the Louvre Museum will also close at 4 p.m. from the 24th.

Impact Widens in Britain

The heatwave's effects are spreading in Britain, which lies at a higher latitude than Hokkaido. In England in the early hours of the 23rd, warm, humid air triggered severe thunderstorms, and about 30,000 lightning strikes were reported, according to the Met Office. Disruptions were seen across the country, including house fires caused by lightning and temporary rail suspensions.

Temperatures in Britain are expected to rise further on the 24th and 25th, with the Met Office forecasting at least 39C. That would likely exceed the June high of 35.6C set in 1957 and 1976.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red alert, the highest level of heat-health warning, for London and other areas, urging vigilance against heatstroke. It is the second such alert since July 2022, when London recorded 40C.

An agency official said the red alert means that even healthy people face a risk to life, and urged people to avoid direct sun and stay hydrated.

Many homes in Britain do not have air conditioners, and many schools are also without them. According to the BBC, more than 300 schools in England and western Wales are taking measures such as closures.

Public transport is also being affected. Network Rail, which manages tracks and stations, said significant disruption is expected and urged people to avoid nonessential travel. Rising temperatures may adversely affect tracks, overhead lines and signal systems, potentially causing speed restrictions, timetable changes and delays.

According to the Met Office, the heat is expected to peak on the 24th and 25th, with temperatures gradually easing from the weekend into early next week. Mireia Guinaldo, a researcher at the University of Oxford, said climate change driven by human activity is increasing the frequency of extreme heat and making record highs more likely.

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