Millions across Europe are enduring the most severe heat wave ever documented on the continent, according to researchers who attribute the unprecedented temperatures to climate change. The surge in heat, intensified by a persistent heat dome parked over the region, has shattered long-standing temperature records in multiple countries and led to widespread public health and infrastructure concerns.

The extreme heat event, unfolding this week, saw new records set in France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, while red alerts were issued in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. On Wednesday, France experienced its hottest afternoon on record with an average temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3 Fahrenheit), followed by the highest recorded nighttime temperatures. The UK recorded maximum June temperatures on consecutive days, reaching 36.7 degrees Celsius (98.06 Fahrenheit) in its southwest, and Spain similarly reported its hottest June days in recent history.

A study released Friday by World Weather Attribution (WWA), involving researchers from across Europe, analyzed temperature and humidity data during the three hottest days and nights of the heat wave, as well as additional data from 19 capital cities. Their findings indicate that this heat wave is the most intense ever measured in Europe and is directly linked to climate change, with warming occurring at a rate exceeding global averages.

The rapid attribution analysis highlighted that heat levels seen this week would have been “virtually impossible” 50 years ago, during the 1976 heat wave, and much less likely even during the extreme event of 2003, which caused tens of thousands of deaths. In 2003, comparable daytime temperatures were roughly 2.4 degrees Celsius cooler than those recorded this June, and nighttime temperatures would have been 1.3 degrees cooler.

Experts emphasized the significance of unusually high overnight temperatures—commonly referred to as “tropical nights,” where temperatures do not fall below 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit)—which diminish opportunities for recovery from daytime heat, thereby raising health risks. Armel Castellan, technical adviser on extreme heat at the WHO-WMO Joint Office for Climate & Health, noted that elevated minimum temperatures may be more indicative of health dangers than peak daytime highs.

Governments across Europe have responded with a variety of measures including school closures, emergency action plans, and transport cancellations. Paris authorities announced a weekend ban on public alcohol consumption aimed at reducing heat-related health incidents. Reports have confirmed dozens of deaths linked to heatstroke and drownings, with at least 45 fatalities in France alone.

The WWA researchers also pointed to the vulnerability of urban areas, where infrastructure and housing designs frequently fail to accommodate such extreme temperatures. High humidity levels exacerbate the physical strain by limiting the body’s ability to cool itself, a factor incorporated into the study through the use of wet-bulb globe temperature metrics.

Carolina Pereira Marghidan of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center underscored the urgent need for investment in heat-resilient infrastructure. She highlighted that despite existing heat warning systems, many people continue to live and work in environments not adapted to this level of heat stress, with considerable consequences for health, transportation, and energy systems.

This heat wave exemplifies the escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather events driven by climate change, underscoring calls for enhanced preparedness and adaptation strategies across Europe.