Overview

• Persistent heat dome has driven southern Europe to record June highs, with Portugal reaching 46.6°C and Spain topping 46°C.
• Widespread amber and red warnings span Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany and the UK, urging precautions for vulnerable populations.
• Wildfires in Turkey’s Izmir province and southern France forced evacuations as firefighters battled blazes under soaring heat.
• Italy has seen a 10% jump in heatstroke admissions and France ordered partial or full closure of around 200 public schools.
• Scientists attribute the exceptional heat's earliness and intensity to human-driven warming and warn of more frequent early heatwaves.