Published on 6/20/2026
European countries entered a state of alert as temperatures approached record levels as part of a heat wave sweeping the continent, as France witnessed meetings, while Germany issued general warnings, while tourism in Italy was negatively affected.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting today, Saturday, in light of the warning of the National Meteorological Agency (Météo France) of the continuation of the heat wave during this week, describing it as similar to the severe waves that the country was exposed to in 2003 and 2019.
Meteorologists said that by tomorrow, Sunday, temperatures ranging between 39 and 40 degrees Celsius will extend from the southwest across the Paris region to Burgundy, and temperatures may reach 41 degrees Celsius in some areas, with expectations that they will peak on Monday, reaching historic record levels in the country that last month recorded 7 deaths affected by the repercussions of climate change, according to the authorities.
A combination of heat and humidity in Germany
Germany is also witnessing heat warnings for most parts of the country, with temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius. The German Meteorological Service (DWD) warned that a combination of heat and humidity may lead to strong thunderstorms.
Aside from the Alps, daily life in Italy and tourism activity in a number of its cities and towns were affected by expectations of temperatures reaching between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius.
Visitors lined up in the hot sun outside the Colosseum, as Rome’s summer heat turned a sightseeing tour into a test of endurance. Some took refuge in the cold places beneath the semi-hidden ruins of the Temple of Claudius.
In the northern city of Bologna, one of the hottest cities on the peninsula, people splashed water on their faces at the 16th-century Neptune Fountain and took shelter in the shade of the arcades.
Last Thursday, it was announced in Paris that a 30-year-old man had died outside an athletics track, in parallel with the French authorities announcing the “orange” alert level – the second highest level – in a quarter of the country, including the capital, Paris, with official calls for residents to exercise “extreme caution” as a result of the heat wave.
This atmosphere brings to mind the repercussions of the heat wave that struck the country in June of last year, which then led to the closure of about 2,200 schools throughout France.
On the tenth of this month, a report issued by the European Copernicus Institute warned that harsh weather conditions had become common in Europe, explaining that last month was considered the second hottest month in the continent’s history.
The escalation of these climate phenomena comes at a time when scientists are warning that heat waves on the European continent are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of global climate changes.
