Extreme heat has shattered temperature records across Europe, with early measurements showing unprecedented highs in south-west France, Croatia, and Hungary. Météo France reported that maximum temperatures in cities such as Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion were 12°C above the average for recent decades, while in Croatia, Šibenik reached 39.5°C and Dubrovnik 38.9°C. Hungary also saw a new daily record of 39.9°C in Körösladány.
The heatwave has fueled devastating wildfires, which have burned over 400,000 hectares across Europe this year—87% more than the two-decade average for this period. Large forest fires raged along Croatia's coast and spread to neighbouring Balkan countries. In Spain, a man died from burns sustained in a wildfire, while in Italy, a four-year-old boy succumbed to heatstroke as 16 cities issued red alerts.
Scientists warned that the extreme conditions are a clear sign of climate change. Lauriane Batté of Météo France noted that more than half of France's 51 heatwaves since 1947 have occurred in the last 15 years. Bob Ward from the Grantham Research Institute said: “This summer, like every summer now, has been exceptional in terms of extreme heat around the world.”
Unlike previous heatwaves, the current event is notable for its duration and geographical spread rather than peak intensity, according to José Camacho of Spain's Aemet. EU fire projections indicate “extreme to very extreme conditions” across the continent this week, with heightened risks in southern Europe and parts of the Nordics.
Public health experts stressed the need for effective measures as heatwaves become more frequent. Antonio Gasparrini of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine warned of a substantial death toll and geographical disparities in mortality. The World Meteorological Organization highlighted compounding effects from wildfires and poor air quality, adding that temperatures exceeded 42°C in parts of Asia and North Africa.
