Europe swelters as more heat records set to tumble

Europe swelters under heatwave, prompting crisis talks in France Sun 21 Jun 2026 at 12:23am In short: A heatwave is sweeping across much of Western Europe, with rising temperatures likely to shatter yet more records. In France, emergency meetings have been called. What's next? The UK's Met Office says there is a 40 per cent chance of beating the record temperature for a June day, set in 1976. A punishing heatwave sweeping across much of Europe has prompted emergency meetings in France, nationwide warnings in Germany and strains on tourists and residents in Italy, as temperatures climb towards record levels. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was due to hold a crisis meeting on Saturday, local time, after the national weather agency Meteo France warned the heat would persist into next week, describing it as comparable to major episodes in 2003 and 2019. By Sunday, forecasters said temperatures of 39 to 40 degrees Celsius would stretch from the south-west through the Paris region into Burgundy, with some areas possibly reaching 41C. Temperatures are expected to peak on Monday, potentially matching historic highs. Germany also faced near-nationwide heat alerts, with temperatures approaching 38C. The German DWD weather service cautioned that a combination of heat and humidity could trigger severe thunderstorms. In the UK, the Met Office says temperatures could top 35C on Tuesday and Wednesday in parts of southern England and Wales. The current record for June stands at 35.6C, set in 1976. Cooling beneath a Roman temple Beyond the Alps, temperatures expected to reach 36 to 37C have been transforming daily life and tourism in some Italian towns. Visitors have queued under a blazing sun outside the Colosseum as Rome's summer heat turned sightseeing into a test of endurance. Some sought relief in the cooler underground spaces beneath the half-hidden remains of the Temple of Claudius. In the northern city of Bologna, one of the hottest in the peninsula, people splashed water on their faces at the central 16th-century Fountain of Neptune and sheltered in the shade of the porticoes. Heatwaves take economic toll Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, raising the risk of health emergencies and economic disruption during the summer months. Authorities in Paris moved to ease the impact on residents, with Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire ordering parks to remain open around the clock. The economic toll of extreme heat is also drawing attention. Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin said short-term effects on growth were "somewhat ambiguous", citing both reduced productivity and increased energy use, but warned that over the medium term heatwaves weigh on economic activity. Reuters