- Several European nations also recorded unprecedented June temperatures. The Czech Republic registered a new national high of 40.6 degrees Celsius, while Denmark recorded its hottest day ever at 37 degrees Celsius, breaking a record that had stood since 1975.
- The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June period on record for the third consecutive day, with temperatures reaching 37.3 degrees Celsius in southeast England.
- Italy placed 18 major cities, including Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence and Bologna, under red heat alerts as temperatures approached 39 degrees Celsius, prompting health warnings and emergency preparedness measures.
A deadly and record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe intensified over the weekend, with Germany registering its highest temperature ever recorded as extreme heat spread eastward across the continent, disrupting transport networks, straining public services, and raising fresh concerns over climate change.
Germany’s national weather service confirmed that temperatures reached a historic 41.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday at the Drewitz weather station in eastern Germany, surpassing the previous national record of 41.3 degrees recorded only a day earlier in Saarbrücken.
Authorities issued extreme heat warnings across most parts of Germany, urging residents to conserve water and avoid prolonged exposure to the scorching conditions as temperatures climbed well above seasonal averages.
The heatwave has already been linked to dozens of deaths across Europe, particularly in France, where authorities reported fatalities among both elderly residents and younger individuals amid worsening health conditions caused by the relentless heat.
Several European nations also recorded unprecedented June temperatures. The Czech Republic registered a new national high of 40.6 degrees Celsius, while Denmark recorded its hottest day ever at 37 degrees Celsius, breaking a record that had stood since 1975.
The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June period on record for the third consecutive day, with temperatures reaching 37.3 degrees Celsius in southeast England. British meteorologists noted that the country’s long-standing June record from 1976 had now been broken repeatedly within the same week.
Italy placed 18 major cities, including Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence and Bologna, under red heat alerts as temperatures approached 39 degrees Celsius, prompting health warnings and emergency preparedness measures.
Meteorologists said the heatwave is being driven by an “omega block” weather pattern, which traps a massive dome of hot air over large parts of Europe while preventing cooler systems from moving in.
Climate experts warned that the intensity and duration of the heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change, which has dramatically increased the likelihood of extreme temperatures and unusually hot nights across the continent.
The severe conditions have disrupted rail services, damaged infrastructure, reduced power generation efficiency, and forced organizers to modify or cancel outdoor events. In Germany, national rail operator Deutsche Bahn allowed passengers to cancel long-distance tickets free of charge due to concerns over overheated tracks, signal failures, thunderstorms and wildfire risks.
In Frankfurt, organizers of the Ironman European Championship shortened parts of the race because of dangerous temperatures.
Across Europe, demand for cooling equipment surged sharply as millions struggled to cope with the intense heat, particularly in northern regions where homes are generally designed to retain warmth rather than provide cooling.
The World Meteorological Organization warned that the heatwave is expected to shift toward Central Europe and the Balkans in the coming days, although thunderstorms forecast for parts of Western Europe may bring some temporary relief.
Forecasters said temperatures in some areas have soared as much as 18 degrees Celsius above normal seasonal levels, underscoring the growing severity of climate-related extreme weather events across the continent.
