Europe Heatwave: How Different Countries Are Affected

A major heatwave is hitting countries all across Europe, pushing temperatures to dangerous levels and threatening to break records set in June. The extreme heat has forced governments to ban alcohol in some areas, cancel sports events, and warn people to stay safe. This comes less than a month after another heatwave in May that already set records in several European countries. Scientists say these back-to-back heatwaves are a sign of global warming, caused mostly by burning coal, oil, and gas.

France was one of the hardest-hit countries. The government banned people from drinking alcohol in public places in areas under 'red alert' — the highest level of heat warning. Temperatures in parts of France already climbed above 40 degrees Celsius, with one town in the south-west recording a scorching 42.2°C. A record 35 departments, about one-third of the country, were placed on red alert, and that number was expected to rise to nearly half of France's mainland regions. In Paris, city officials even allowed people to swim in the Canal Saint-Martin to help them cool down.

Germany and Belgium also felt the heat. In Berlin, the final of a tennis tournament had to be stopped because of severe thunderstorms, though the match did restart six hours later. Temperatures in the German capital topped 30°C over the weekend. In Belgium, forecasters warned that temperatures could be the 'hottest ever recorded' in the country, and the national rail company cancelled some rush-hour trains to prevent breakdowns on the tracks.

Spain and Switzerland were also dealing with dangerous heat. Spain officially declared its first heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach 44°C in some places. A public viewing of a World Cup football match in Madrid was cancelled because of the extreme forecast. Meanwhile, Swiss weather officials warned of a 'strong heatwave' with temperatures reaching up to 37°C and said it was not clear when the heat would end.

In the Balkans, countries including Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia, and Montenegro all braced for extreme temperatures. Orange weather alerts — a serious level of warning — were issued for parts of Croatia and Serbia, where temperatures were expected to hit 35°C. Croatian authorities gave out health advice to help people cope with the heat. Other nearby countries also prepared their residents for the dangerous conditions ahead.

Britain was also facing a record-breaking week. The country's weather service issued 'amber' heat warnings, with temperatures expected to reach 38°C in England and Wales. Nights were set to stay very warm too, with temperatures not dropping below 20°C in southern England — what forecasters call 'tropical nights.' Scientists warned that the heat would have serious effects on people's health, transportation systems, and other essential services.

Experts say these extreme heat events are becoming more common because of climate change. Scientists have shown that burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas is the main cause of global warming, which makes heatwaves more frequent and more intense. This heatwave, coming so soon after the one in May, is a clear example of that trend. Researchers are urging governments and individuals to take steps to reduce the use of fossil fuels before these dangerous conditions become the new normal.