ROME — A prolonged heat wave continued to affect southern Europe on Friday, prompting health alerts, disrupting transportation and public services, and leading authorities in several countries to urge residents and visitors to take precautions against extreme temperatures, according to national weather agencies and government officials.
Italy, Spain, Portugal and parts of France remained among the areas most affected by the late-June heat event. Italian authorities expanded heat warnings across multiple cities this week, while Spain’s national weather agency AEMET warned of continued dangerous conditions in several regions after temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the country.
In France, Météo-France issued high-level alerts for large parts of the country earlier in the week as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in some locations. Authorities also adjusted school schedules and implemented emergency measures aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, including older adults and people with existing health conditions.
The heat wave has also placed pressure on infrastructure. Reuters reported that power systems, transportation networks and agricultural sectors across parts of Europe faced disruption as demand for cooling increased and extreme temperatures affected daily operations. In Italy, some regional authorities restricted outdoor work during the hottest periods of the day, while public transport operators reported operational challenges linked to the heat.
The World Meteorological Organization said on Monday that the heat event was affecting millions of people across Europe and producing knock-on effects for economic activity, infrastructure, agriculture and ecosystems. The agency said national authorities and health agencies were coordinating heat-health action plans to reduce risks to the public.
Health officials throughout the region repeatedly urged people to limit outdoor activity, remain hydrated and check on vulnerable family members and neighbors. “People have to protect themselves,” authorities said in public advisories issued across several affected countries this week.
The heat also affected education systems. Thousands of schools in France and Britain altered schedules or closed temporarily because of high indoor temperatures, according to government officials and education authorities.
As of Friday, high-temperature warnings remained in effect across parts of southern and western Europe. Weather agencies in several countries said temperatures were expected to remain above seasonal averages in some areas through the coming days, although conditions had begun easing in parts of Spain. Details on the full extent of the heat wave’s impact remained under assessment.
