Western Europe is experiencing a historic heatwave, with temperatures breaking records and causing widespread disruptions across multiple countries. The extreme heat has led to fatalities, infrastructure strain, and operational changes in schools, transportation, and public services.

France recorded its highest ever temperature, reaching 44.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern town of Pissos on Tuesday. The country also experienced the hottest night on record, with overnight lows averaging 21.6 degrees Celsius. Average daily temperatures nationwide hit a record 29.8 degrees Celsius. The heatwave has been blamed for dozens of deaths, including at least 48 drownings as people sought relief in water bodies, and two children who died from heat exposure inside a vehicle. Additionally, two elderly people succumbed to heatstroke in Spain, which has faced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius since the weekend, though these began to ease slightly on Wednesday.

France’s power grid has been severely affected. The northwestern Brittany region saw around 68,000 residents lose electricity due to transformer failures attributed to the intense heat. French nuclear power plants, which provide much of the country’s electricity, reduced their output by roughly 7 percent because high river temperatures limited cooling capacity, raising concerns about energy availability amid soaring demand.

Authorities in France declared red heat alerts for a record 72 departments. Similar high-level warnings were issued across parts of the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. Italy’s health ministry placed 16 major cities, including Rome, Florence, and Milan, under its highest heat alert. In the UK, temperatures reached 35.8 degrees Celsius in West Sussex, potentially setting a new record for June, with forecasts suggesting daytime highs could reach 38 degrees Celsius later in the week. The Met Office also highlighted concerns over unusually warm nighttime temperatures, which increase health risks.

The prolonged heat is attributed to a rare atmospheric pattern called an Omega block, characterized by a stationary high-pressure system that traps increasingly hot air over the region. The situation is exacerbated by a developing El Niño and ongoing climate change trends, with Europe warming at more than twice the global average, thus raising the likelihood of such extreme heat episodes.

The heatwave has triggered numerous operational disruptions. In France, approximately 1,800 schools were closed, and another 8,000 adjusted schedules to mitigate health risks. Across the UK, many schools also closed or shortened classes. Public transportation faced setbacks, including train delays in the Netherlands where amber heat warnings sparked cancellations, notably on busy routes between The Hague and Amsterdam. Outdoor sports events were canceled, while retail outlets reported increased demand for cooling devices. Similarly, construction workers adapted schedules to avoid peak heat periods, and some theaters in Switzerland offered free air-conditioned screenings.

Tourist attractions adjusted hours or closed early, with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum among those affected. In Britain, the traditional Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace was scaled down, foregoing the usual ceremonial attire due to heat concerns. In Paris, some fashion events moved to morning slots in response to the discomfort caused by soaring temperatures.

Agricultural sectors have also suffered. Poultry farms in Brittany and the Pays de la Loire regions reported the deaths of hundreds of thousands of birds, prompting guidance for handling carcasses to prevent environmental contamination. Meanwhile, officials warned of worsening drought and wildfire risks in France, Spain, and Greece, with soil moisture levels nearing historic lows in multiple French regions.

As the heatwave continues, officials across Europe are urging caution, emphasizing the heightened risks to health and infrastructure while monitoring the strain on power supplies and water resources.