A severe heat wave is engulfing Europe, exacerbated by a powerful heat dome and a prolonged marine heat wave in the Mediterranean Sea. Water temperatures have risen by up to 9 degrees above average, contributing to deadly floods, devastating fires, and record-breaking temperatures.
The western Mediterranean, including southern France, is experiencing the most intense warming, causing high humidity to surge north and keeping temperatures elevated at night. The heat wave has broken records in Spain and Portugal, with temperatures reaching as high as 46°C (114.8°F) in some areas.
France is also battling scorching heat, with multiple towns and cities enduring temperatures above 100°F on Monday. The Eiffel Tower summit has been closed to tourists due to the extreme conditions. The UK is also experiencing its second heat wave of the summer, with temperatures pushing above 90°F.
Wildfires are sweeping across several countries, including Turkey, where 50,000 people have been evacuated as firefighters tackle fierce blazes. Germany is also bracing for record-breaking temperatures, which will be exacerbated by a cold front swinging into northwestern Europe from the west.
Climate experts attribute the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves to human-caused climate change, which is causing Europe to warm at twice the rate of the rest of the world. The Mediterranean marine heat wave has become more pronounced in recent summers, contributing to deadly floods and devastating fires. As temperatures continue to soar, Europeans are facing an unprecedented crisis of heat-related illnesses.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/01/weather/europe-heat-wave-global-warming