Europe has been experiencing a persistent heatwave recently, with several countries including France, the UK, Italy, and Spain sounding high-temperature alerts. The forecast indicates that the hot weather will continue this week, affecting the daily lives, transportation, and the environment of the citizens, leading to the activation of emergency response measures across the regions.
On Sunday (June 21), the capital of France, Paris, and 34 provinces issued the largest-ever red alert for high temperatures, covering over a third of the country, with an additional 45 provinces issuing orange high-temperature warnings, affecting a total of approximately 53 million people.
According to the French meteorological department, the current red alert coverage extends over more than a third of the country’s land area, with localized temperatures expected to rise to 41 degrees Celsius on Monday (22nd). The French national railway company has canceled 71 intercity trains due to the risk of cable damage and track expansion caused by high temperatures, with service disruptions expected to last until Monday.
The UK Met Office recently issued an amber high-temperature warning, with extreme hot weather expected in parts of England and Wales starting from Monday for several days.
The Spanish National Meteorological Agency announced on Sunday that the first wave of heat this summer has hit the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, expected to last until Thursday (25th). Most parts of the country have issued high-temperature warnings, with temperatures projected to remain around 40 degrees Celsius.
Due to the high temperatures, the World Cup viewing area at Madrid’s Colon Square has been temporarily closed. Authorities have cautioned the public to avoid excessive sun exposure and be vigilant against the risk of wildfires.
Meanwhile, Croatia’s beaches have seen an influx of people seeking relief from the heat, with many tourists cooling off by the sea; the Belgian meteorological department warned that temperatures in Belgium exceeded 30 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with next week expected to reach the “highest temperatures ever recorded.” The Belgian National Railway Company, SNCB, announced the cancellation of some trains during peak hours on Monday and Tuesday to reduce the risk of train malfunctions causing disruptions.
In addition, the heatwave has also affected countries such as Germany and Italy, with Italy expanding its red high-temperature alert to eight cities in the north and central regions on Sunday, where temperatures generally exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. Meteorological agencies have warned that extreme high temperatures in Europe are becoming more frequent and lasting longer.