Central and Eastern Europe are experiencing a severe heatwave today, Monday 29 June 2026, with forecasts predicting temperatures could reach 38C in major cities across the region. This follows a weekend of record-breaking heat, where Germany, Czechia, and Poland all reported their highest ever temperatures, with some areas exceeding 40C on Sunday.
Cities expected to bear the brunt of today's extreme heat include Belgrade, Bratislava, Budapest, and Warsaw. The Met Office has not issued specific warnings for the UK related to this particular continental heatwave, but conditions across Europe highlight the increasing frequency and intensity of such weather events.
Further west, France is grappling with the human impact of its own prolonged heatwave, which commenced in mid-June and concluded, at least temporarily, with violent thunderstorms over the weekend. Public health authorities in France are investigating a notable surge in deaths, particularly among the elderly population. Reports indicate that last Wednesday saw over 1,200 more deaths than typically expected, a figure that climbed to over 1,400 by Thursday, with hundreds more on Friday.
French authorities anticipate these figures will continue to rise as more death certificates are processed, underscoring the severe consequences of extreme temperatures. Despite the red extreme heat alert ending today, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to chair a cross-governmental crisis meeting to evaluate the events of the past week and discuss future preventative measures.
While the immediate focus is on Central and Eastern Europe and the aftermath in France, observers note that the broader pattern of intense heatwaves affecting the continent suggests that such conditions may not be confined to specific regions for long. The transition from extreme heat to violent thunderstorms, as seen in Western Europe earlier this week and now anticipated for Central and Eastern Europe, further highlights the volatile nature of current weather patterns.
For UK residents, the Met Office advises staying updated on domestic weather forecasts, even when heatwaves are impacting other parts of Europe. Although the UK is not currently experiencing similar extreme heat, the broader trend of rising global temperatures and increased frequency of severe weather events has implications for future planning and public health.