23/06/2026 16:27 - Internacionales
26 countries from Ireland to Greece under alert with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F)
France is facing one of the worst heat waves ever recorded in June, with more than half of its 96 departments under red alert—the highest severity level. The government has taken exceptional measures:
The government banned alcohol consumption in public spaces during the Fête de la Musique, an annual music festival that brings millions of people to the streets across France. This tradition, held every June 21st since 1982, typically features free concerts in parks, squares, and streets throughout the country.
More than 800 schools remain closed by government order to protect students from dangerous heat exposure, as many French schools lack adequate air conditioning.
According to Météo-France (the French national meteorological service), this heat wave will be comparable in severity to the devastating August 2003 event, which caused nearly 15,000 deaths over 16 days. At least four French localities recorded all-time high temperatures for any month of the year.
The UK Met Office issued an unprecedented red alert for extreme heat for Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26, 2026. Temperatures are expected to reach at least 38°C (100°F), which would shatter the all-time June record of 35.6°C (96°F) set in 1976.
Liz Bentley, CEO of the Royal Meteorological Society, stated:
"This is not just a heat wave, it's a furnace driven by a heat dome that will affect most of southern Britain and push temperatures to truly exceptional levels."
The UK will also experience tropical nights—when temperatures don't drop below 20°C (68°F). These warm nights are particularly dangerous because the human body has little opportunity to recover from daytime heat stress.
Spain is experiencing temperatures above 38°C (100°F) and tropical nights. On the coast of Almería (southern Spain), nighttime temperatures from Sunday to Monday did not drop below 30°C (86°F), according to AEMET (Spain's meteorological agency).
The intense heat forced authorities to close a fan zone equipped with giant screens for watching the World Cup in Madrid, as reported by Reuters. Many Spanish cities have limited or no air conditioning in public spaces.
Maximum temperatures
Exceeding 40°C in multiple countries
Countries on alert
From Ireland to Greece
Schools closed in France
Protecting students
Homes with air conditioning
In Europe vs 90% in USA
Deaths from extreme heat
Last four years (WHO)
| Country | Max Temp |
|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 41°C+ (106°F) |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 40-42°C (104-108°F) |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 38°C (100°F)* |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Red alert |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 40°C (104°F) |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 38°C (100°F) |
*Potential June record
Heat domes are persistent high-pressure systems that act like a lid, trapping warm air and pushing it downward. This phenomenon has settled over Europe for the second time in two months.
The situation is worsened by the strengthening of El Niño in the tropical Pacific—a natural climate pattern that increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat waves worldwide.
Tropical nights (temperatures above 20°C/68°F) are particularly dangerous because the body cannot recover from daytime heat stress, increasing the risk of heat stroke and cardiovascular problems.
Extreme temperatures combined with high humidity make sweating and other body cooling mechanisms less effective, reaching levels that challenge human thermoregulation.
Akshay Deoras, meteorologist at the University of Reading, warned: "Human-caused climate change has enabled this phenomenon, overloading the atmosphere with additional heat and making extreme temperatures much more intense than they would have been in the past."
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that extreme temperatures have caused more than 200,000 deaths in the last four years. Scientists emphasize that such heat waves will become increasingly frequent as the planet continues to warm.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
