Relief is finally in sight for millions across Europe after a brutal and record-breaking heatwave scorched the continent over the past several days.
Meteorological agencies are forecasting a gradual drop in temperatures beginning Wednesday, July 2, as cooler air masses move in from the Atlantic, bringing thunderstorms and a much-needed break from the oppressive heat.
Paris, which reached a blistering 40°C on Tuesday, is expected to cool to 35°C on Wednesday and dip further to 28°C by Thursday, according to national weather service Météo-France.
“Our latest forecasts confirm the arrival of cooling from the west,” the agency said. “It will quickly affect the northwest of the country.” Heavy thunderstorms are expected to develop along the German border by late Wednesday and continue into Thursday.
Germany’s national weather service forecast similar developments, with Frankfurt peaking at 40°C on Wednesday before cooling significantly to 27°C on Thursday. However, other parts of Europe are still facing a prolonged heat emergency. Spain and Italy, particularly, are not expected to see relief until the weekend.
In France, the heatwave forced the closure of around 2,200 schools on Tuesday due to safety concerns. The Education Ministry announced that only about 135 would remain shut on Wednesday as temperatures start to ease.
Météo-France confirmed that June 30 was the hottest June day recorded since 1947, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Similar records fell across the continent. Portugal and the Netherlands also reported their highest-ever June temperatures on Tuesday.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts indicated that this June will likely be among the top five warmest on record for the continent as a whole.
In a stark illustration of climate extremes, the Mediterranean Sea reached a record-high temperature for June on Sunday, while Mont Blanc—Europe’s highest mountain—experienced above-freezing temperatures, a rare event for this time of year.
The consequences have been serious. In Turkey, forest fires fueled by dry and windy conditions broke out around Izmir and Hatay over the weekend. Authorities reported Tuesday evening that most of the fires were under control, but they cautioned that the risk remains due to the continuing heat and dryness.
Human tolls are also emerging. In Spain, police reported the tragic death of a two-year-old child who was left in a hot car for several hours in the northeastern part of the country.
Authorities across Europe have issued repeated warnings for vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, young children, and those with underlying health conditions. Experts have long referred to heatwaves as a “silent killer” due to the severe health impacts they can have, often without much public awareness.
While western Europe can begin to recover, much of the continent remains under alert. The return to more normal summer temperatures is welcomed, but the intensity of this heatwave has raised fresh concerns over the accelerating impact of climate change across Europe.
