PARIS — Europe grappled with record-breaking temperatures this week as France issued its highest-level heat alert for large parts of the country, with authorities reporting multiple heat-related incidents and disruptions.
Météo-France, the national weather service, placed 54 departments — about half the country — under a red heat wave alert on Tuesday, June 23, describing conditions as unprecedented for the time of year. On that day, France recorded its hottest day ever, with a national thermal indicator averaging 29.8 degrees Celsius (85.6 degrees Fahrenheit) across 30 weather stations, according to the agency.
Local highs exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in many areas, peaking at 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 Fahrenheit) in Pissos in southwestern France. Paris saw temperatures near 38-41 degrees Celsius, prompting closures and restricted hours at landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum.
Similar red alerts were issued in parts of the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and other countries, affecting tens of millions across the continent. The U.K. Met Office warned of potential June records, while Spain reported high daily averages.
French officials reported at least 18 heat-related deaths earlier in the week, including elderly individuals and children, according to local authorities and media. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that 40 people had drowned since June 18 while swimming in unsupervised areas amid efforts to escape the heat, most of them young people.
“ There is a tragic scourge of drownings,” Lecornu said on Tuesday.
Power outages affected around 68,000 households in France, and hundreds of schools closed or adjusted schedules. Transportation services faced disruptions, and emergency services reported increased calls.
The heat wave, driven by a high-pressure system, followed an earlier warm spell in May and has broken various national and regional records for June or all-time averages. Forecasters indicated exceptionally high temperatures could persist into late in the week.
As of Thursday, alerts remained in effect across much of western Europe, with conditions expected to shift eastward. Météo-France and other agencies continued to urge precautions for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children and outdoor workers.
Health authorities advised staying hydrated, avoiding direct sun during peak hours and checking on at-risk individuals. Details on total casualties across Europe remained under compilation by national governments.
