A heatwave continues to hammer Southern and Western Europe this week, with temperatures soaring past 40 °C (104 °F) in many destinations—triggering health alerts, travel disruptions and wildfires.
Europe Heatwave Causing Disruptions
Barcelona, Spain, endured its hottest June on record. The Fabra Observatory noted June as the warmest since records began in 1914. Seville, Spain, reached 46°C (115°F) over the weekend. In Portugal, Morocco-like heat swept across the country, unleashing a historic 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) in Mora on June 29—Portugal’s highest ever June temperature.
In addition, Paris and Italy are experiencing intense heat, with Italy banning outdoor work during peak hours in many regions. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower summit is closed to the public until Thursday due to extreme heat. The Adriatic coast, including parts of Croatia and neighboring Balkan countries, experienced temperatures close to 40°C (104°F) over the weekend.
The cause of the temperatures, according to weather sources, is a high-pressure “heat dome” anchored over much of Europe since mid‑June, which is reinforcing persistent heat. Forecasters warn this scorching pattern will extend into early July, with peak temperatures likely to escalate.
Wildfire Emergency
Significant wildfires raged in parts of Turkey, with over 50,000 residents evacuated as powerful wind‑driven fires razed dozens of homes and reached near‑containment. Greece is also experiencing wildfire emergencies with several regions on Category 4 fire risk as wildfires erupted in Northern Greece—including near Kavala—and south of Athens, prompting coastal evacuations and emergency alerts.
Destinations across Europe are issuing health advisories urging travelers to stay hydrated, avoid midday sun (11 a.m.–6 p.m.) and seek cooled public spaces throughout the day. Health officials emphasize the grave risk of combined hot days and nights.
UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres cautioned that extreme heat is no longer a rare but a new normal, capturing the urgency felt across Europe. Heat kills an estimated half a million people globally each year, with older people and those with chronic illness particularly vulnerable.
