Europe Battles Heatwave as Transport, Tourism and Wildlife Are Hit

Europe is facing at least a second day of a heatwave expected to last until midweek, with temperatures nearing 40C on Sunday. The extreme heat has disrupted public transport, reduced visitor numbers at tourist sites and endangered wildlife across the continent. In Italy, authorities issued red alerts in eight cities, including Bologna, Florence, Milan and Turin.

Meteorologists said the temperature spike is being driven by a mass of hot air moving north from the Sahara and fed by a strong high-pressure system known as the African anticyclone. That system is creating a so-called heat dome over western and central Europe, trapping hot air and pushing temperatures higher each day. In Madrid, visitor Hailey San Cesario of Miami told Reuters, “I’m dressed all in white because it’s so hot, and I carry a small electric fan everywhere.” Spain’s weather service, AEMET, warned that temperatures would rise above 40C and remain there until midweek.

France has been particularly affected, with rail services in Paris disrupted because the heat can damage tracks. Jean Castex, head of France’s national rail company, said 3,500 workers were monitoring trains and tracks, with another 2,000 on standby for emergency repairs. He urged at-risk passengers to stay home after 71 intercity trains were already canceled.

The heat is also affecting animals. A rescue center near Namur, Belgium, said it had taken in about 150 animals suffering from heat stress in recent days, with chicks and young birds especially vulnerable. Roman de Jaeger, founder of the CREAVES center, said chicks “prefer to jump out of the nest rather than let themselves die and simply cook inside it,” adding that rescue centers across Belgium are overwhelmed. Spain also shut its fan zone with giant screens in Madrid for the national team’s 4-0 match against Saudi Arabia. In Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland, the weekend brought the highest June temperature ever recorded there, 35.7C. Experts warned that climate change is making European heatwaves more intense and more frequent.