Europe hit by severe heatwave, three dead in France and schools closed

Europe is experiencing the largest temperature anomaly in the world compared with its historical averages, according to Reuters climate monitoring data. The continent’s average peak temperature has reached 24 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees above the 1961 to 1990 norm.

France has been among the hardest hit. Three people have died there from heat-related health complications, and the heatwave has disrupted education nationwide, with authorities ordering about 2,700 schools to close or change their hours. In Bordeaux, temperatures are expected to climb above 42 degrees Celsius, and France’s weather service has placed 49 administrative districts under a red heat warning.

French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said on local television that relief is not expected soon. “We are heading toward, at the very least, several days of very, very hot weather. We do not know when temperatures will start to drop,” she said.

Spain is also suffering from extreme heat, including overnight temperatures that are not falling below 25 to 30 degrees Celsius in southern areas. The national weather agency has issued a red alert for the Basque Country, where San Sebastian is forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, nearly double the seasonal historical average. Agency spokesman Ruben del Campo said temperatures are running 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this time of year, and in some northern areas more than 10 degrees above average.

The heat is also affecting wildlife in northern Europe, where rescue centers say they are struggling to handle the influx of animals. In Temploux, Belgium, biologist and wildlife rescue founder Romane de Jaeger said her center took in 150 animals in three days, noting that rooftop temperatures can reach 50 to 60 degrees Celsius and force birds to abandon nests to avoid dying inside them.