U.K., France brace for another heat wave as temperatures soar in Europe

The United Kingdom and France are preparing for their fifth heat wave of the season as temperatures continue to rise across Europe. The French meteorological agency, Météo-France, warns that temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in southeastern France starting Tuesday. In the UK, an amber heat health alert has been issued for most of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) this week.

The extreme heat, which began in May, has led to widespread wildfires, prolonged drought, and new national temperature records. It has also resulted in thousands of projected heat-related deaths. This year is the third-hottest on record, behind 2024 and 2025, according to climate statistics. However, 2026 still has the potential to surpass this record due to the combined effects of human-caused global warming and a strong El Nino event.

Last month set a record for the highest average sea surface temperature ever observed for July in the open oceans, surpassing the previous 2023 record. Globally, the average July surface air temperature was 16.90 degrees Celsius (62.42 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the second warmest July on record, tied with July 2024. In Western Europe, the average temperature for the June-July period reached 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.92 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking the 2022 record.

Persistent high-pressure systems have trapped heat over Western Europe, amplifying widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their natural cooling capacity, allowing heat to build more readily, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. In France, heat wave alerts were issued for the first time in May, and at least 5,700 more deaths than usual were recorded in June.

The country experienced its hottest day on June 23, with temperatures reaching 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southwest. Two heat wave episodes occurred in July, contributing to a historic wildfire that forced 220,000 people to evacuate, one of the largest such efforts since World War II. Temperatures were slightly cooler in the UK on Monday, but the country remains prepared for its fifth heat wave in an exceptionally hot and dry summer, with England and Wales facing drought conditions.