Europe Faces Record Heatwave: 193 Million Above 35°C, Fatalities, Service Disruptions
A record heatwave is affecting 193 million people across Europe with temperatures above 35°C, causing fatalities and straining services. Germany, the UK, and Switzerland have seen record highs, leading to service disruptions and event cancellations. Scientists link the intensity to human-driven climate change, with the UN warning of future impacts.
A record-breaking heatwave is currently sweeping across Europe, with an estimated 193 million people expected to experience temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius today as the phenomenon shifts eastward.
Germany alone is forecast to see approximately 75 million people endure temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, while over 404 million individuals across the continent are projected to face highs above 30 degrees Celsius, even as the heatwave's peak begins to recede from western regions. This surge in temperatures has already established new national records, including 41.3 degrees Celsius in Saarbrücken, Germany, and the hottest June days on record in both the UK and Switzerland earlier this week.
Authorities throughout Europe are actively responding to these extreme conditions. French health services are under significant strain, with emergency callouts in Paris increasing by 80% compared to the same period last year. In Switzerland, operators at Europe’s oldest nuclear plant were forced to shut down reactors due to excessively high river temperatures, which compromised the safety of the cooling system. Tragically, a toddler died in Marseille, France, on Friday after being discovered in a hot car, and more than 55 drownings have been attributed to the ongoing heatwave.
Public events have also been severely impacted. Pride marches in Paris and Lyon were postponed due to pressure on emergency services, while numerous festivals and outdoor gatherings have been canceled or restricted across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Scientists have stated that this heatwave has «shattered numerous temperature records» and aligns with patterns of human-driven climate change, which contributes to more frequent, prolonged, and intense extreme heat events. The UN’s World Meteorological Organization has cautioned that Europe is now experiencing «what we expect to see in a changing climate,» as governments prepare for further disruptions as the heat moves into the Balkans and beyond. Andrew Walsh contributed additional reporting.