Red heat alerts flood Europe as temperatures surge beyond 40°C

Tue Jun 23 2026 10:03:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Europe faces a record‑setting heatwave as red alerts cover France, Italy, Spain and beyond, forcing school closures, transport disruptions and tragic fatalities.

A brutal heatwave has engulfed western and central Europe, triggering red heat alerts across France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Luxembourg. Temperatures are forecast to spike over 40°C, driving hundreds of schools to close and evacuation warnings for vulnerable people. The danger is highlighted by two children killed in their family car in France and fatal swimming accidents in Germany. Authorities are urging caution, banning alcohol at festivals, and scrambling to keep the public safe.

Red heat alerts flood Europe as temperatures surge beyond 40°C

Western and central Europe is currently in the grip of a record‑setting heatwave. A council of national weather services has issued the highest red heat alerts in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Luxembourg as temperatures surpass 40°C in many cities.

In France, more than half of the 13 regions are under the harshest warning. The capital Paris is expected to hit 41°C on Wednesday, while Bordeaux recorded a blistering 42°C on Monday. As a result, around 845 schools were shut and a further 1,800 allowed students to finish classes early.

Tragic fatalities have followed the heat. Two children aged two and four were found dead in their family car in the town of Carpentras, amid rising temperatures of 39°C. Ambulance crews attempted resuscitation but were unsuccessful. The French prosecutor has linked the deaths to the heat wave, while local authorities caution against unsupervised cooling in lakes and rivers after 13 drownings over the weekend.

Italian cities such as Milan, Turin, Venice, Bologna, Florence and Rome received red alerts after days of temperatures above 35°C. Spanish authorities warned of “extremely high” temperatures, with some areas expected to reach 44°C, and highlighted a red alert in the Basque country.

The heatwave has also taken a toll in Germany where five people died in swimming accidents during the weekend, and the UK’s Met Office issued a rare red heat warning for parts of England and Wales, expecting highs of up to 38°C.

Authorities are taking action: France’s national rail operator SNCF urged vulnerable passengers to avoid or postpone travel; train services have been cut or altered in many regions. A temporary ban on alcohol was imposed at the annual Fête de la Musique to preserve healthcare services.

Science has confirmed that the recurrent heatwave is a clear indication of global warming. Météo-France noted 34 out of 51 heatwaves recorded in France have occurred since 2000, and 26 since 2011.

Analysts warn that the current wave is likely to be one of the longest and most intense in recent years, driven by hot air moving north from the Sahara trapped over the affected areas.

Residents, businesses and authorities are advised to heed the red warning and take preventative measures. The heat could persist through the end of the week, with temperatures still expected to hover between 36°C and 40°C across much of the continent.