France, along with several other European nations, is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring as high as 41°C in parts of the country. On Tuesday, Paris was placed on red alert, forcing authorities to shut the summit of the Eiffel Tower, ban high-emission vehicles, and impose speed limits to reduce pollution.
According to Meteo France, the country’s national weather agency, temperatures are expected to peak this week, with 16 departments on the highest heat warning and 68 others on the second-highest level. Authorities have warned citizens to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor exposure, especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and people with health conditions.
The heatwave has disrupted daily life, with nearly 1,350 schools partially or fully closed across France due to overheating classrooms. Teachers and parents raised concerns about unventilated learning environments making students unwell. Public warnings emphasized that heatwaves can be deadly and should be treated with the same seriousness as violent storms.
Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal, Spain, and Italy are also battling extreme heat and its consequences. Portugal experienced slight relief on Tuesday but remained under orange alert in many inland areas. A rare roll cloud startled beachgoers in the north and central coast on Monday, triggering panic as strong winds darkened the skies suddenly.
Spain reported temperatures reaching a record-breaking 46°C in the south—its hottest June day on record. Italy, meanwhile, issued red alerts for 18 cities including Rome, Milan, and Palermo, and faced a flash flood in Piedmont that killed one person. Officials warned that such extreme weather events are no longer rare and must be treated as recurring emergencies.
Additionally, wildfire threats remain high across the region. In Turkey, more than 50,000 people were evacuated due to fast-spreading fires in Izmir, driven by 120 km/h winds. Greece is also battling multiple blazes. Scientists say human-induced climate change is driving these increasingly intense and frequent heatwaves, pushing Europe into uncharted territory of climate risks.