Europe is going through one of the most intense heatwaves in recent years. The heatwave is advancing towards the northeast of the continent, breaking historical temperature records, putting pressure on healthcare systems, and forcing authorities to cancel public events.
According to an AFP analysis, nearly 200 million Europeans will experience temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday, and over 404 million will exceed the threshold of 30 degrees.
In total, over 404 million Europeans will experience temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, even though this number is slightly lower than the one recorded on Friday.
France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Hungary have issued the highest levels of warnings, as the heatwave gradually moves towards the northeast of the continent.
Historical temperature records
The heatwave continues to break records in several countries.
In eastern France, the Bas-Rhin department recorded 40 degrees Celsius for the first time in history. In Switzerland, in Basel, thermometers indicated 38.8 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature ever measured in June.
In Slovakia, the capital Bratislava experienced an unprecedented tropical night. The minimum temperature did not drop below 26.3 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 24.8 degrees set in August 2017. Meteorologists estimate that temperatures could reach up to 39 degrees on Saturday.
Germany is also approaching a new national record. The German Weather Service (DWD), cited by DPA, announced that a provisional measurement of 41.3 degrees Celsius was recorded in Saarbrücken on Friday afternoon. If confirmed, this value will exceed the previous absolute record of 41.2 degrees set in July 2019.
Hospitals under pressure and events canceled
The effects of the heatwave are increasingly impacting healthcare systems.
In France and the United Kingdom, doctors warn that emergency units are overcrowded. In Paris, the number of calls to emergency services has increased by about 80% in the past week.
The Head of the Emergency Department at Georges-Pompidou Hospital in Paris described the situation as "extremely serious," with corridors full of patients suffering from severe hyperthermia. The French Ministry of Health also expressed concerns about deaths recorded at home due to extreme temperatures.
Specialists from the French public health agency Santé publique France warn that each additional degree significantly increases the risk of death, and heatwaves have chain effects on public health.
The most vulnerable are the elderly, chronically ill patients, children, and homeless people, who are at increased risk of dehydration, hyperthermia, and cardiovascular complications.
Spanish authorities have already reported over 200 deaths associated with the heatwave, and other victims have been recorded in other European countries.
The heatwave has also affected the organization of important events. Pride marches in Paris and Lyon were canceled, the Solidays music festival did not take place, and in Hamburg, organizers decided to cancel the half marathon scheduled for this weekend.
The heatwave is also affecting Romania. According to ANM, starting Monday, almost the entire country will be placed under a red or orange heatwave alert, with temperatures reaching up to 41 degrees Celsius and a particularly high thermal discomfort.
A slight cooling accompanied by the risk of storms
Meteorologists estimate that temperatures in western Europe will start to decrease from Sunday evening, with the arrival of a cooler air mass from the Atlantic.
This will bring relief after several days of extreme heat, but it is also accompanied by the risk of violent storms in several regions.