A severe heatwave gripped much of Europe on Sunday, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting nationwide warnings, transport disruptions and signs of strain on wildlife and tourist hotspots.
The heatwave on June 21, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and typically the start of the three hottest months of the year, raised concerns about an early and sustained onset of extreme conditions.
After several days of temperatures above 35°C, Italian authorities issued a red alert on June 21 in eight cities, including Bologna, Florence, Milan and Turin.
In Rome, pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square used parasols and umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun as the Pope led a traditional Sunday prayer from a window in the Apostolic Palace.
The temperature rise is being driven by a mass of warm air moving north from the Sahara, driven by a strong high pressure system known as the “African Anticyclone”.
Meteorologists say the system creates a so-called “heat dome” that traps warm air over western and central Europe and allows temperatures to grow day by day.
Residents and tourists in Madrid used fans and drank lots of cold drinks while visiting the city’s famous El Rastro flea market.
“I’m dressed all in white because it’s so hot, and I carry my little electric fan everywhere I go,” said Haily San Cesario, a 22-year-old engineer from Miami.
Spain’s weather agency AEMET issued red and orange alerts across several regions, warning of temperatures above 39°C to 40°C across much of the Iberian Peninsula and Majorca, and said the heatwave would last until at least midweek.
Train canceled in France
The extreme heat has started to disrupt the infrastructure.
From Paris’s Gare Montparnasse station, SNCF chief Jean Castex said the rail network was “strongly affected” by high temperatures that risk damaging overhead lines and widening tracks.
He said 3,500 staff had been mobilized to monitor the network and 2,000 more would carry out emergency repairs. He urged vulnerable passengers to postpone travel. The operator has canceled 71 intercity trains until Monday on key routes.
In Germany, where temperatures have already reached as high as 38°C, the DWD weather service warned of severe thunderstorms in eastern regions, including Berlin, where heavy rain disrupted the outdoor Fete de la Musique festival.
Organizers had to evacuate the court at the Berlin Open as heavy rain and strong winds set in, and as fans waited for the tennis tournament’s singles final between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.
Heat stress on nestlings
Wildlife rescuers also report increasing pressure.
A center near the Belgian city of Namur said it had received around 150 heat-stressed animals in recent days, with young birds particularly at risk.
“Nestlings prefer to jump rather than die and literally cook in their nests,” said CREAVES founder Romain De Jaegere, adding that centers across Belgium were overwhelmed.
Experts say the situation reflects a wider trend of heatwaves in Europe becoming more frequent and more intense due to climate change.
