Deadly Heat Wave Grips Western Europe as France, Spain and Germany Report Rising Death Toll

A dangerous heat wave is scorching western Europe, contributing to deaths, school closures, travel disruptions and emergency cooling measures across several countries.

Extreme temperatures have pushed parts of France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom into dangerous conditions, with officials warning that heat-related health risks remain high as daytime temperatures soar and nights offer little relief.

In France, dozens of people have died from drowning while trying to escape the heat, according to Reuters. Germany has also reported more than 20 swimming-related deaths, while Spain’s mortality tracking system has linked at least 212 deaths to heat-related impacts.

France Records Historic Heat

France has been one of the countries hit hardest by the extreme temperatures.

According to Météo-France, Wednesday became the hottest day ever recorded in the country, with temperatures reaching 43.8 C, or 110.8 F, in Palluau in the Vendée region.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said the dangerous heat affecting France and much of western Europe has brought widespread highs of 90 to 100 F, or 32 to 38 C, and is expected to continue into the end of the week.

The heat has disrupted daily life across France. The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre closed early on Tuesday, while some luxury brands moved Fashion Week shows to the morning to avoid the worst of the heat.

A French agriculture cooperative also implemented night shifts to protect farmers from dangerous daytime conditions.

Schools Close as Officials Warn of Health Risks

Nearly 2,700 schools across France were expected to close or adjust schedules because of heat wave warnings.

In Pithiviers, a town in the Loiret region, all eight nursery and primary schools were closed for the week, according to BFMTV.

Mayor Maxime Buizard said the town had not seen a June heat episode of this intensity and duration.

“We preferred to take preventative measures,” he said.

The United Kingdom also faced dangerous heat, with the UK Met Office issuing a red weather warning for parts of Wales and central and southern England. Officials warned that everyone could be at risk of adverse health effects, including dehydration, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses.

The UK Met Office reported that temperatures reached 36.4 C at Yeovilton on Thursday, making it the hottest June day on record.

Train operators in Britain advised that only essential trips would be available on Wednesday and Thursday because of heat-related speed restrictions.

Most European Homes Lack Air Conditioning

The heat wave has exposed a major challenge across Europe: most homes do not have air conditioning.

According to the International Energy Agency, only about 20% of European households have air conditioning, compared with about 90% of households in the United States.

Paris resident Emmanuelle Saliba told AccuWeather that she felt privileged to be able to afford an air conditioning unit, especially because she has a small child.

“AC units in France are not cheap,” she said.

She described the current heat wave as especially difficult because temperatures have remained high even after dark.

“We’ve experienced heat waves in the past, but this one is particularly brutal because of the unusually high temperatures for Paris, and because it is unrelenting,” Saliba said.

She said the heat has lasted for an entire week, with nighttime temperatures not dropping enough to provide relief.

Residents Seek Relief in Pools, Canals and Cooling Spaces

Across Europe, residents have sought relief wherever they can find it.

In Switzerland, air-conditioned movie theaters opened for free daytime screenings. In Bordeaux, fans attending the Fête de la Musique street music festival stood under mist sprayers to cool off.

Because of the intense heat, the French government banned alcohol consumption in certain areas during the festivities.

In Paris, some swimmers jumped from bridges into the Canal Saint-Martin over the weekend. A portion of the canal has since been opened for supervised public swimming after water testing found it clean enough.

Paris officials said only about 100 meters of the Canal Saint-Martin are open and supervised for swimming. A nearby pool in Saint-Ouen is also staying open later and becoming free for Parisians after 4 p.m.

Drownings Rise as People Try to Cool Off

Many of the deaths linked to the heat wave have not come directly from heat illness, but from attempts to cool down.

Reuters reported that at least 48 people in France died from drowning as they sought relief from the heat. Two children also died after being left in cars.

In Germany, more than 20 people died in swimming-related accidents, according to Reuters.

Officials have urged residents to use caution around rivers, lakes, canals and unsupervised swimming spots, especially as more people seek water during extreme heat.

Thunderstorms Expected as Heat Shifts East

AccuWeather meteorologists said the heat wave will begin to break down in western Europe this weekend, but extreme heat will shift eastward.

“Beginning this weekend, the heat wave will break down in western Europe, but a brief period of extreme heat will progress eastward across central Europe this weekend and then reach eastern Europe early next week,” Sosnowski said.

As cooler air moves in, forecasters warned that heavy and severe thunderstorms could develop across western Europe, with the greatest risk from France to Germany.

For now, officials across Europe are urging people to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, drink water, check on vulnerable neighbors and children, and seek cooling spaces when homes become unsafe.

The heat wave has already turned deadly, and authorities warn the danger is not over yet.