Western Europe heatwave shatters June records as heat dome drives 40C highs

London,UPDATED: Jun 25, 2026 18:36 IST

Western Europe is in the grip of a severe June heatwave, with temperatures rising above 40 degrees Celsius in many places as a "heat dome" pushes hot air from north Africa into the region. The extreme conditions have arrived earlier than usual, with records falling during both the day and the night, while high humidity has made the heat feel more tropical than temperate.

Countries such as Spain and France have been hit hard, while the heat has also affected places like the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, which are less used to such oppressive conditions. Forecasters say the heat is likely to continue for a few more days before turning slightly fresher, and more records could still be broken even though July and August, usually the hottest months of the European summer, are yet to come.

One of the main reasons this heatwave has been so difficult is the humidity, which limits the body's ability to cool itself through sweat. This has been especially challenging at night in countries where air conditioning is uncommon, such as the UK. The Met Office said the UK recorded its highest June minimum temperature of 23.5C at Bute Park in Cardiff. In England, temperatures in Plymouth only fell to 23.0C, provisionally setting a new record for the highest June minimum temperature there.

Germany also saw extreme overnight heat, with the German Weather Service saying the temperature in Bad Bergzabern in Rhineland-Palatinate did not fall below 26.2C. That equals the country's record for its warmest night, set in July 2019.

France has faced some of the worst conditions, with three-quarters of the country under a red alert until at least Friday. On Wednesday, the country recorded its hottest day ever. Meteo France said the national thermal indicator, which is an average of temperatures measured at 30 weather stations, reached 30C for the first time. Forecasters said that record could be broken on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach 40C to 42C in several places.

The heat has also affected sport. Formula 1 has designated the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix a "heat hazard" because temperatures are likely to go above 31C on Sunday, the level at which drivers are required to carry extra cooling equipment. This will be the first time these rules have been used for a European Formula 1 race, though they were introduced only a year ago.

The UK recorded its hottest June day, with 36.1C reported at Gosport in southern England. The Met Office has extended its red alert for heat across much of central and southern England and Wales, and the record is widely expected to be broken again in the next couple of days.

Spain, a country more accustomed to heatwaves than much of Europe, has also seen unusual conditions in its cooler northern areas along the Atlantic coast. Earlier this week, an all-time record of 43.7C was recorded in the village of Tama in the Cantabrian region, which is generally known for cooler weather and green landscapes.

In Ireland, Met ireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy said the country's all-time temperature record could be "challenged" on Thursday. The highest temperature recorded in the Republic of Ireland is 33.3C, measured at Kilkenny Castle on June 26, 1887. With the heat continuing across the region, countries in western Europe are seeing an unusually early and widespread spell of extreme summer weather.

With PTI Inputs

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