Published on 6/27/2026
European countries recorded new temperature records, causing hundreds of deaths in France and Spain, while other countries declared a state of alert as the heat wave spread to them.
Today, Saturday, a large part of Europe experienced an additional day of extreme heat extending from France to Poland, passing through the Croatian Adriatic coast. As the heat wave moved to northeastern Europe, a state of maximum alert was declared in France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Romania.
Maximum temperatures were recorded in several European countries, such as Denmark, where the temperature reached 37 degrees Celsius, for the first time since data began to be recorded in 1874, and the Czech Republic, where the temperature exceeded 40 degrees for the first time (40.6), and Germany, with a new record temperature of 41.5.
In Switzerland, for the third day in a row, a record temperature was recorded for the month of June, reaching 39 degrees in the city of Basel.
In light of the unprecedented high temperatures, Europeans resorted to all possible means to avoid the intense heat, either by swimming in rivers and fountains, taking shelter inside churches, or staying in the basements of their homes.
France
Dozens of children and adults died during this heat wave. Temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius disrupted railway traffic and electricity generation operations.
Today, Saturday, the French authorities announced that 109 people had died in the capital, Paris, since the start of the severe heat wave that has been hitting the country for days, according to emergency health services.
The health authorities in Paris and its surrounding areas have activated the emergency plan within hospitals, which includes summoning medical personnel on leave, increasing bed capacity, and postponing non-urgent surgical operations.
Spain
On Saturday, the Spanish authorities reported more than 200 deaths, most of them elderly people, patients with chronic diseases, children and teenagers, in addition to homeless people on the streets. The heat caused deaths in various ways, such as drowning, high body temperature, heart attack, and others.
Germany
Today, Saturday, Germany recorded a new temperature record for the second day in a row, with the peak temperature reaching 41.5 degrees Celsius in the town of Möckern-Dravitz, according to the German Meteorological Service.
Yesterday, Friday, the authority recorded a record temperature of 41.3 degrees Celsius in the Burbach area of the city of Saarbrücken (the capital of the state of Saarland), which is the highest temperature recorded in Germany until that time.
Italy
Today, Saturday, the Italian Ministry of Health issued a red level warning due to the heat wave in 18 cities, including Milan, Rome, Turin, Venice, Genoa, Florence and Bologna, with temperatures expected to rise to about 39 degrees Celsius in some areas.
Britain
Today, Saturday, the United Kingdom recorded the highest temperature in its history this June, reaching 35.7 degrees Celsius south of London, exceeding the previous record of 35.6 degrees Celsius recorded in 1976.
The British Meteorological Service said that the temperature was recorded in Charlwood near Gatwick Airport, while Britain is witnessing a second consecutive month of record heat.
Eastern Europe
In the east of the continent, Romania is preparing to declare a red alert starting next Monday across all of its territory, as meteorologists expect “extreme temperatures” that will continue until next July 1. Navo
Neighboring Moldova intends to ban traffic for vehicles weighing more than 12 tons between June 28 and July 1.
The World Meteorological Organization reported that the current heat wave will gradually move toward central Europe and the Balkans by the end of this month.
