Europe is scrambling to mitigate the effects of an extreme heatwave that has pushed thermometers above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the continent, with Britain activating its official heatwave plan for the first time this year.
In Paris, authorities have closed public parks and opened 14 “cool rooms” in municipal buildings. Shopkeepers in central districts have resorted to chalking windows to reflect sunlight. The French capital’s metro remains unair-conditioned, and passengers have been urged to carry water. In Lyon, a city-wide “vigilance” code has been enacted, restricting outdoor work.
Spain’s weather agency, AEMET, issued a red alert for the regions of Andalusia, Extremadura, and Aragon, where temperatures are forecast to reach 44 degrees Celsius. Local councils have set up hydration stations and opened swimming pools free of charge. In Madrid, nurses have been stationed at subway exits to treat cases of heat exhaustion.
Germany’s Deutscher Wetterdienst warned of “extreme heat stress” in the south, with Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg expected to peak at 38 degrees Celsius. Berlin has opened cooling centres in libraries and churches, and the city government has advised residents to avoid physical exertion between 11am and 4pm.
Italy’s health ministry has declared a “red alert” for 13 cities, including Rome, Florence, and Bologna. The national civil protection agency has deployed additional ambulances and urged vulnerable populations to stay indoors. In Milan, authorities have suspended outdoor market permits until further notice.
Britain’s heatwave plan was activated on Monday after the Met Office issued a level 3 alert for much of southern and central England. The plan, coordinated by the UK Health Security Agency, involves checking on elderly and isolated residents, providing cooling advice, and ensuring that nursing homes and hospitals have sufficient stocks of fans and fluids. Forecasters predict temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country later this week.
The heatwave is caused by a high-pressure system over western Europe that is drawing hot air from North Africa. Climate scientists at the University of Oxford note that heatwaves of this magnitude are now 10 times more likely than they were in the pre-industrial era.
Public health officials stress that the greatest risks are dehydration, heatstroke, and exacerbation of cardiovascular conditions. “We are reminding everyone to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and check on vulnerable neighbours,” said a spokesperson for the UKHSA.
The current spike is expected to subside by the weekend, but experts caution that such events will become more frequent and intense as global temperatures rise.
