Europeans, Braced for 5th Heat Wave of 2026, Have Had Enough

Europe is getting ready for its fifth heat wave of the summer of 2026 — and many people say they have simply had enough. Temperatures across the continent have smashed records this year, sparking fierce wildfires and causing serious water shortages. From Spain to Britain to Italy, residents and tourists alike are struggling to stay cool and find relief. The latest wave of heat is expected to hit Spain first, with highs of up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, before moving east toward Germany by the weekend.

In Rome, a wine seller named Irina Nedelcu, 42, said she had never felt so hot in her life. She used to enjoy the summer heat, but not anymore. 'I used to love the heat and hate the cold, but starting this year, basta,' she said, using the Italian word for 'enough.' She has kept her air conditioner off because it costs too much to run. Instead, a fan blows warm air around her market stall, making her feel like she is standing inside 'a ventilated oven.'

In Paris, a 22-year-old named Sarah Weyenbergh described her summer in an apartment without air conditioning as 'unbearable.' She said she tried taking shower after shower to cool down, but it only made her feel hotter. Paris residents could still use water freely, but the rest of France was not so lucky. In more than 70 percent of mainland France, people face limits on how much water they can use because of widespread droughts. In some areas, people could even be fined for washing their cars or filling swimming pools.

Across the English Channel, the situation was just as serious. Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought, and tens of millions of people are banned from using garden hoses. In Spain's northern Burgos region — a place that used to be known for its cool summers — resident Charro Barriuso, 65, said the change has been shocking. 'The last few summers have been criminal,' she said. 'We used to sleep with a blanket in the summer here. Now we sleep naked.'

Scientists say climate change is making these droughts worse, and the effects are spreading across Europe's major rivers. The Rhine River in Germany is drying up, making it harder for boats to travel and carry goods. In Serbia, the Danube River has dropped so low that shipwrecks from a Nazi fleet that sank at the end of World War II have been exposed above the waterline. Droughts and violent rainstorms have also damaged farmland across the continent.

Italy's largest farming group, Coldiretti, estimates that weather-related damage to farms has topped three billion euros — nearly $3.5 billion. The group's chief economist, Lorenzo Bazzana, said people need to start thinking differently about how they live in this new climate. 'It's clear that we must equip ourselves and prepare, including mentally, to live in this kind of climate,' he said. Leaders in Italy are also calling for better ways to manage and save water.

Life in cities has changed too. In Rome, fewer people are eating outdoors in the evenings because of the intense nighttime heat. Bars and restaurants have seen a drop in sales, and Romans are skipping heavy meals in favor of salads. 'Tourists still eat pasta carbonara and amatriciana because they're traditional dishes, but Romans are asking for salads,' said Claudio Pica, a local small business leader. Alcohol sales have also dropped significantly compared to past summers.

Some tourists are changing their travel plans because of the heat. Hannah Cutter, 24, a speech-language pathologist visiting from New York, said she knew it would be hot but was not prepared for just how bad it would feel in direct sunlight. Her sister Julia Cutter, 23, said the 'stifling' heat would make her think twice before visiting Italy in August again. 'I mean, we have heat like this at home, and this is just next level,' she said. Meanwhile, a Rome resident named Mario Del Pane, 44, found his own solution — free afternoon movies at city-sponsored cinemas, where he could spend the hottest hours of the day somewhere cool and comfortable.