Europe Endures Intensifying Heat Wave, Triggering School Closures and Emergency Measures

Europe is facing a fresh heat wave that has prompted wide precautions across the continent, with the situation expected to worsen in the coming days. The new surge comes less than a month after a May heat wave set record temperatures in several European countries. Scientists say human-caused climate change is making extreme weather events, including heat waves, stronger and more frequent.

France has been hit hardest. Several cities canceled major events, and alcohol consumption was banned on Sunday in public roads, streets, and other public places in red alert areas, the highest heat warning level, as well as in some orange alert zones. Temperatures in parts of the country rose above 40 degrees Celsius and reached 42.2 degrees Celsius in Bisseau, in the Landes region of southwest France. A total of 845 schools were closed on Monday, while another 1,800 adjusted their opening hours.

The heat is also affecting southern Britain, Spain, Portugal and Germany. In Berlin, organizers halted a tennis tournament and evacuated spectators before play resumed six hours later. Temperatures in the German capital climbed above 30 degrees Celsius over the weekend, even as storms hit parts of the country on Sunday. In Belgium, forecaster David Dehenau of the Royal Meteorological Institute warned that next week could bring the country's highest temperatures ever for this time of year, after readings topped 30 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Belgium's national railway will cancel some peak-hour trains on Monday and Tuesday to reduce the risk of disruptions.

Spain declared its first official heat wave of the year from Sunday through Wednesday, with 13 of its 17 regions under heat warnings, including the Basque Country on the French border. Temperatures there could reach 44 degrees Celsius in some areas. In Spain and neighboring Portugal, people headed to the beaches. Switzerland issued warnings for low-lying areas and forecast a severe heat wave with temperatures up to 37 degrees Celsius. Britain's Met Office extended its extreme heat warning across most of England and Wales from Monday through Thursday, with some areas expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius and southern England facing tropical nights above 20 degrees Celsius.