Central Europe bore the brunt of an intensifying heatwave on as Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic recorded unprecedented temperatures, while soaring heat buckled highways, strained transport networks and forced emergency evacuations.
The extreme weather, which first scorched western Europe before pushing north and east, has expanded into one of the continent’s most severe early summer heatwaves, leaving governments scrambling to protect public health, safeguard critical infrastructure and respond to mounting disruptions.
Germany registered another all-time high, with preliminary data showing 41.5C (106.7F) in Möckern-Drewitz, surpassing the previous national record set a day earlier.
Denmark’s Meteorological Institute reported a provisional temperature of 37.2C (99F) in Odum, north of Aarhus, making it the country’s hottest day since records began in 1874.
Switzerland registered 39C (102F) in Basel, marking another national June record, while the Czech Republic recorded 40.8C (105F) in Doksany, its highest temperature on record.
The heat has taken a growing toll on infrastructure across Germany. Sections of the A2 Autobahn outside Berlin cracked under the intense temperatures, forcing road closures, while additional highway damage was reported elsewhere. Near Hamburg, part of the A7 motorway was also closed after heat caused the asphalt to split.
Germany’s rail network also came under pressure, prompting Deutsche Bahn to advise against nonessential long-distance travel.
“Germany’s transportation infrastructure is being severely affected by the record-breaking heat this weekend,” Deutsche Bahn said in a statement.
In Dormagen, western Germany, dozens of residents were evacuated from a nursing home after indoor temperatures climbed to 35C (95F). Local authorities said one resident died overnight, although officials had not determined whether the heat was responsible.
The latest records underscore how unusually intense the heat has become for countries where air conditioning remains relatively uncommon and infrastructure has historically been designed for milder summers.
Heatwave grips much of Europe
The heatwave now stretches across much of Europe, with an estimated 150 million people experiencing temperatures above 35C (95F).
France continues to face some of the most severe impacts despite signs that temperatures are beginning to ease in parts of the country. Paris and 36 other regions remained under the highest heat alert after dozens of regions spent several days in the extreme danger category.
France has recorded around 1,000 excess deaths since June 24 as extreme temperatures swept across the country, according to Public Health France. The agency said in a statement on June 28 that the figure was preliminary, with approximately 1,000 additional deaths observed compared with mortality levels recorded in previous months.
The worst-affected areas were regions placed under red heat alerts, including Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy and Pays de la Loire. Public Health France said 85% of the reported excess deaths involved people aged 65 or older.
Temperatures above 40C (104F) in parts of France intensified pressure on hospitals and emergency responders, as authorities managed a surge in heat-related medical callouts during the country’s prolonged heatwave.
In Paris, demand for basic cooling equipment surged as residents turned to electric fans for relief, with some retailers reporting that stocks had sold out amid the prolonged heat.
Public hospitals in the French capital treated nearly 3,000 emergency patients for a second consecutive day, roughly one-third above normal levels, prompting the Paris public hospital authority to activate emergency plans across all 38 hospitals. Calls to medical dispatch centers increased nearly 80% compared with the same period in 2025.
Concern over mounting pressure on emergency services led authorities to postpone the Paris Pride march and cancel a three-day music festival.
In Italy, the Health Ministry placed 18 cities, including Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence and Bologna, under red heat alerts as temperatures approached 39C (102F). Tourists crowded public fountains and shaded areas to escape the heat while vendors reported brisk sales of bottled water, hats and umbrellas.
“Gelato, pasta, because it’s tradition, but also fresh fruit, and ice cold drinks, that’s the best for this temperature,” said Isabella Dold, a tourist from Kempten, Germany.
The United Kingdom also endured record-breaking June temperatures before cooler conditions began moving in. Authorities confirmed the country’s hottest June day on record after temperatures reached 37.2C (99F) in eastern England.
Police recovered the bodies of a 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy from separate bodies of water, bringing the number of UK heat-related fatalities reported during the week to at least four. Authorities have repeatedly warned against swimming in unsupervised lakes and rivers.
Spain’s MoMo mortality monitoring system recorded 327 deaths potentially linked to the heat between Sunday and Thursday, while France reported dozens of fatalities during the prolonged hot spell and at least 55 drowning deaths since the heatwave began.
Governments activate emergency measures
Authorities across Europe have introduced emergency measures as the heatwave places growing pressure on healthcare systems, transport infrastructure and public services.
France activated emergency response plans across Paris hospitals while postponing public events to reduce health risks.
Germany issued extreme heat warnings across most of the country, advised residents to conserve water and allowed rail passengers to postpone long-distance travel without penalty as tracks, signals and overhead power lines came under increasing strain from heat, thunderstorms and wildfire risks.
Municipal leaders also urged voluntary reductions in water use. “We should rely on voluntary cooperation as long as possible, local authorities should only issue bans if that doesn’t work,” André Berghegger, chief executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper.
Italy maintained red heat alerts across major cities, while organizers shortened the cycling and running segments of the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt because of dangerous temperatures.
Police in Berlin deployed water cannons to spray cooling mist on residents as emergency services responded to heat-related incidents.
Scientists link record temperatures to climate change
Scientists say the extraordinary temperatures reflect more than a short-term weather event.
A rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution concluded that the record-breaking heat and humidity affecting Europe would have been virtually impossible without human-driven climate change. The researchers found such conditions are now about 200 times more likely than they were just two decades ago and would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago.
The weather system has been driven by a persistent high-pressure “heat dome” that trapped hot air over much of Europe while allowing temperatures to build day after day under largely cloud-free skies.
André Corrêa do Lago, president of the United Nations climate conference COP30, said the heatwave has “helped strengthen the perception of urgency of fighting climate change.”
“The fact that we are living with this amazing heat in London is a strong argument, we need to agree, that we have to take action as soon as possible,” Do Lago told The Associated Press.
Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Over the last four years, more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes, and most of those deaths were preventable, the World Health Organization’s Europe office said this month.
Europe faces a cooling dilemma
The latest heatwave has also renewed debate over Europe’s limited use of air conditioning. While nearly 90% of U.S. homes have air conditioning, only about 20% of European homes do. Experts say the continent’s traditionally milder climate, older building stock, higher electricity prices and ambitious climate goals have slowed adoption.
As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, demand for residential cooling is rising sharply, leaving European governments to balance public health needs against the higher energy consumption and emissions associated with widespread air conditioning.