A punishing heatwave is tightening its grip on western Europe, pushing temperatures toward dangerous levels and straining public health systems. The Copernicus climate service announced that western Europe endured its hottest June on record, setting the stage for further extremes.
In the Netherlands, the national heat plan is being activated across central and southern provinces as weekend highs are expected to reach 33 to 34 degrees Celsius. Germany faces similar conditions, with temperatures forecast to surge to 41 degrees along the Rhine by mid-week. The German Weather Service has warned of tropical nights and severe heat stress in southwestern regions.
The human toll has been mounting. An estimated 4,310 people died in Germany during a single brutal week in late June, and the Robert Koch Institute projects more than 5,100 heat-related deaths for the full year. In France and Spain, wildfires are already burning as thermometers approach 40 degrees.