Smoking bans and train cancellations as Europe braces for new heatwave

Europe anticipates a new heatwave as a record-breaking summer continues, with temperatures soaring to dangerous levels. The UK is bracing for temperatures up to 36°C, with nearly three-quarters of England in drought conditions. July saw the driest month on record for the country, and little rain is expected for the remainder of August.

Wildfires have broken out across England, necessitating overnight firefighting efforts in the New Forest National Park and the Holme Fen Nature Reserve. France is also experiencing severe drought, with nearly 70% of the country under water-use restrictions. Groundwater levels in over 60% of French reserves were below normal as of August 1, and satellite images from the EU's Copernicus climate change agency show receding vegetation across the nation in August over the past three years.

Western Europe recorded its highest average temperature for June–July at 21.62°C, significantly above the average. Most of France is expected to face high temperatures this week, with peaks over 40°C in the southern Var region, while Paris is forecast to reach 37°C on Thursday. A smoking ban has been implemented in all public spaces throughout the summer in the Ile d'Yeu, off the west coast.

In Italy, major cities are on red alert, with surveillance systems at their highest warning level. Tourist attractions, including Rome's Colosseum and Pantheon, have adjusted their opening hours to avoid peak heat hours. A wildfire has led to the evacuation of 200 people from Lake Garda, a popular tourist destination in northern Italy.

Low river levels in eastern Europe threaten nuclear-powered electricity generation, with Romania's state-owned nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica potentially shutting down its last operational reactor on Thursday due to dwindling Danube river levels.