U.K., France brace for fifth heat wave as Western Europe sets record

The United Kingdom and France are preparing for their fifth heat wave of the season following months of extreme temperatures across Europe.

Beginning Tuesday (Aug. 11), temperatures in southeastern France could approach 40 C, according to a warning from national weather agency Météo-France. 

Most of England will also be under an amber heat health alert as temperatures are expected to reach 36 C later this week.

The latest warnings come days after Italy placed all 27 cities monitored under its national heat surveillance system on red alert as temperatures rose above 40 C. 

The extreme heat began across Europe in May and has contributed to prolonged drought, major wildfires, thousands of projected heat-related deaths and new national temperature records, according to the Canadian Press.

Globally, 2026 currently ranks as the third-hottest year behind 2024 and 2025. 

Scientists say the combination of accelerating human-caused climate change and a powerful El Niño weather pattern could still make it the hottest year on record.

El Niño is a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean that influences temperatures and weather conditions around the world.

New figures from Copernicus, Europe’s climate monitoring agency, show the average sea surface temperature across oceans outside areas of seasonal sea ice reached 20.96 C in July. 

It was the highest average recorded for the month, surpassing the previous record of 20.89 C set in 2023.

Copernicus said developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific contributed to the elevated ocean temperatures.

The average global surface air temperature reached 16.90 C in July. That tied July 2024 as the second-warmest July on record.

Western Europe recorded an average temperature of 21.62 C during June and July, breaking the previous record set in 2022.

“Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts told the Canadian Press.

“This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.”

France issued heat wave alerts in May for the first time on record, with more than half of the country reporting new monthly temperature highs.

Conditions intensified in June, when at least 5,700 more deaths than usual were recorded, according to France’s public health agency.

Météo-France reported that June 23 was the hottest day ever recorded in the country, with temperatures reaching 44.3 C in southwestern France.

Two additional heat waves followed in July. 

Temperatures in the U.K. were slightly cooler Monday, but the country is preparing for another wave of extreme heat during an unusually hot and dry summer. 

Half of England and all of Wales are experiencing drought conditions.

Two record-breaking heat waves in May and June were linked to more than 2,800 excess deaths in the U.K.

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