The UK and France are preparing for their fifth heatwave of the season, extending a spell of extreme temperatures that has gripped Europe since May.
Météo-France warns that temperatures in the country's southeast will approach 40°C starting Tuesday. A amber-yellow weather alert is in effect across much of England from the same day, as mercury levels could rise up to 36°C.
Persistent high-pressure systems have trapped heat over Western Europe, while extreme temperatures have worsened widespread drought conditions. Samantha Burgess, head of climate strategy at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, explained that as soils dry out, they lose their natural cooling capacity, allowing heat to accumulate even faster.
The heat, which began as early as May, has triggered wildfires, prolonged droughts, and new temperature records. A historic wildfire in southwestern France forced the evacuation of 220,000 people, while half of England and all of Wales are currently suffering from drought.
According to the French Public Health Agency, at least 5,700 more deaths than usual were recorded in the country in June alone. In Europe, the early heatwave in May could also have caused more than 10,000 deaths.
On June 23, France recorded the hottest day in its observational history, reaching up to 44.3°C. In June and July, the average temperature in Western Europe reached 21.62°C, breaking the 2022 record. According to Copernicus data, the average sea surface temperature outside polar regions reached a record 20.96°C in July.
Temperature records and resulting droughts in Europe demonstrate that climate change is becoming a daily economic and public health challenge. Tens of thousands of excess deaths and widespread evacuations are forcing European governments to rethink their infrastructure adaptation strategies.
It is clear that the disruption of natural cooling mechanisms only accelerates heat buildup, creating a feedback loop. Over the coming months, a key factor will be how well energy and water systems withstand such extreme pressure.
