Europe faces prolonged heatwave as temperatures soar across continent
France recorded its hottest-ever day on Wednesday, with the average 24-hour temperature hitting 30°C.
Record-breaking temperatures across Europe have led to public safety measures, event cancellations, and heightened emergency response demands, reflecting significant strain on health and infrastructure systems.
“Swimming outside of supervised areas and times is extremely dangerous,” cautioned Emmanuel Grégoire, Mayor of Paris, following a drowning incident amid the ongoing heatwave.
Europe continues to swelter amid record-breaking temperatures
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A brutal heatwave is set to continue to grip Europe this weekend, as searing temperatures persist across the continent.
Record-breaking temperatures have already been recorded across the UK, France and Germany in recent days, with events cancelled and alcohol sales restricted as emergency services battle to attend to a surge in callouts.
In France, Paris banned drinking alcohol in public over the weekend, while the city’s Pride March, which had been scheduled to take place on Saturday, has been postponed due to the heatwave. The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum will also continue to close early.
The French capital has seen temperatures touch 39°C, prompting many locals and tourists to flock to the city’s canals and parks to cool off.
Emmanuel Grégoire, the mayor of Paris, said a man drowned in the Canal Saint-Martin on Friday night and reminded people of the danger of swimming outside of supervised areas and opening times.
Thirty-seven departments remain under a red heat alert on Saturday, dropping to 24 on Sunday, according to Météo-France. France recorded its hottest-ever day on Wednesday, with the average 24-hour temperature hitting 30°C.
Much of Germany also remains under heat warnings over the weekend.
The western city of Saarbrücken reportedly saw Germany’s highest temperature ever recorded on Friday, at 41.3°C.
Uwe Baumgarten of the German Weather Service told AFP that this could be surpassed on Saturday.
The United Kingdom recorded its hottest June day on record on Friday.
The Met Office, the UK’s national weather and climate service, said provisional figures showed the village of Santon Downham in Suffolk hit 37.3°C.
Parts of eastern and southeast England remain under an amber heat warning on Saturday.
Spain has also been experiencing relentless heat this week, with temperatures topping 40°C in some areas.
Spain’s national weather agency said temperatures would remain “warmer than normal” heading into next week, especially in the western, central, and southern mainland areas.