UPPSALA—Public health authorities across multiple European countries on Friday issued heat-health warnings and advisories as an intense heatwave continued to push temperatures above seasonal norms, according to national meteorological services and health agencies.
The alerts covered parts of Western, Central and Southern Europe, where temperatures in several locations have reached or exceeded 40 degrees Celsius this week, prompting red-level warnings, hospital preparedness measures, and public guidance to reduce exposure. The World Meteorological Organization and national agencies have said the conditions are placing strain on health systems, infrastructure and transport networks, and increasing risks for heat-related illness, particularly among older people and those with pre-existing conditions.
Authorities in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and other countries have issued varying levels of heat alerts, including red and amber warnings depending on local thresholds. In France, the national meteorological service Météo-France has reported record or near-record temperatures in several regions this week, while issuing top-level alerts across large portions of the country. Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET has also warned of dangerously high temperatures in multiple regions, with some areas forecast to exceed 40C.
Health services in affected countries have activated contingency measures, including expanding emergency capacity and issuing public guidance to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable individuals. In Germany and Switzerland, authorities have also reported disruptions to transport and infrastructure as heat affected roads and rail systems, according to national reports.
“The extreme heat is also impacting economic activities, infrastructure, agriculture and ecosystems,” the World Meteorological Organization said in a statement earlier this week, adding that coordinated heat-health action plans were being mobilized across Europe to support at-risk populations.
In the United Kingdom, the Met Office extended heat warnings into late last week as temperatures peaked above 37C in some areas, followed by thunderstorms that disrupted travel and infrastructure, according to official weather updates.
Officials in several countries have not provided a single consolidated casualty figure for the current wave, though national agencies have reported heat-related deaths and hospital admissions in some regions. France and other countries have warned that fatalities remain possible as the heat persists, but comprehensive cross-border totals were not immediately available.
As of Friday, meteorological agencies said the heatwave was easing in parts of Western Europe but was expected to continue affecting parts of Central and Eastern Europe into the weekend, with additional alerts remaining in place depending on national thresholds and local forecasts.
