Heatwave Sweeps Across Europe

Paris — Millions across Europe faced extreme heat on Tuesday as an early summer heatwave intensified.

France has been the hardest hit so far, with temperatures remaining high day and night. The country’s weather service, Météo-France, placed 54 departments—about half the nation—under a red heatwave alert. Authorities also reported 40 drowning deaths in the past week as people sought relief from the heat.

Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom have also been affected.

Experts link rising extreme temperatures to human-caused climate change, with forecasts suggesting even hotter years ahead.

Early Closures at the Louvre and Eiffel Tower

In a country with limited air conditioning, the heatwave has disrupted schools, public transport and sporting events across Europe.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower adjusted its schedule due to extreme heat, closing in the afternoon instead of its usual late-night hours. The Louvre also announced it would close two hours earlier than normal from Wednesday to Saturday.

The museum said parts of its historic building help regulate temperature, but it remains vulnerable to climate change. It added that heat builds up later in the day, especially with high visitor numbers.

Temperatures are expected to stay above 40°C (104°F) in many areas through the end of the week. Météo-France warned that further record-breaking heat is possible, with some highs potentially exceeding all previous records.

Officials said the heatwave is unusually early in the summer and could resemble the extreme August 2003 event, which caused an estimated 15,000 deaths in Europe.

Experts note that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising about twice the global average since the 1980s, according to Copernicus. The World Health Organization estimates more than 200,000 heat-related deaths in Europe over the past four years, many of which were considered preventable.

Britain and Spain Swelter in Heatwave

Across the English Channel in the United Kingdom, schools closed and train services were disrupted as extreme heat spread across the country. The Met Office issued a red heat warning for Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach up to 39°C (102°F) at the peak.

Authorities forecast around 37°C in southern England and up to 35°C in parts of southeast Wales. Rail operators cancelled services in some areas and urged the public to travel only if necessary. Conditions are expected to ease by Friday.

Further south, Spain is also experiencing intense heat across the Iberian Peninsula. The national weather agency Aemet issued red alerts for temperatures reaching 44°C (111°F) in Andalusia, along with warnings of 40°C in northern coastal regions.

Meteorologists say Spain is facing increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves, linked to climate change. Data shows a growing number of June heatwaves in recent years, with rising atmospheric and sea temperatures contributing to the trend.

European climate monitors report that 2024 was the hottest year on record for the continent. Scientists warn that heat and drought conditions are becoming more intense, increasing risks to health and wildfire outbreaks.