Western Europe is gripped by its second major heatwave of the year, with devastating consequences unfolding across several nations. In France, a record-breaking 36 million people – more than half the population – are under an orange heatwave warning as Météo-France extends its alert to 53 mainland departments.
French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stark warning, urging "extreme vigilance" from everyone and specifically calling on citizens to prioritise vulnerable individuals, including the elderly. The gravity of the situation was starkly illustrated by the tragic death of a 30-year-old man in the Paris area on Thursday, who suffered a cardiac arrest as temperatures soared to 37C.
Météo-France has described the current heatwave as "widespread, prolonged and intense", with forecasters predicting average highs of 36C in the north-west and 38C in the centre and south. Temperatures are expected to dip slightly on Saturday before surging again, potentially reaching 40C in numerous regions – including Paris – early next week.
Spain is also bracing for a prolonged period of scorching temperatures, with Aemet anticipating highs of 40C. Rubén del Campo, an Aemet spokesperson, noted that temperatures are likely to exceed 35C across the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, potentially reaching 40C in southern valleys such as the Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir.
Germany is not immune to the heat either, with south-western regions forecast to reach 36C by the weekend. Authorities have issued heat warnings, even at altitudes of 600 metres (2,000ft), while the DWD weather service warns of potential heavy thunderstorms and downpours.
The French power utility EDF has announced that four nuclear plants will likely reduce output next week due to high cooling water temperatures in the Rhône and Gardon rivers. In response to the crisis, SNCF has cancelled 71 intercity trains, while some schools have rescheduled examinations to avoid peak heat periods.
As the region bakes under intense heat, local authorities are scrambling to mitigate the effects of this prolonged heatwave, which is likely to persist until next Wednesday or Thursday in Spain. The situation highlights the increasingly severe impact of climate change on Western Europe's weather patterns.