Much of Europe is bracing for yet another scorching heatwave following periods of record drought that have driven rivers to historic lows, ignited historic forest fires, and contributed to thousands of deaths. As temperatures soar again across the continent—identified by the Copernicus climate observatory as the fastest-warming region on the planet due to human-caused climate change—nations are struggling to manage the compounding crises of water scarcity and extreme heat.
Swathes of Britain and France were already under extreme heat warnings on Monday, with forecasts predicting temperatures around the mid-30s Celsius. Simultaneously, parched conditions have triggered new fire outbreaks in Greece and Spain. Unusually high temperatures are also expected in the coming days across countries less accustomed to such intense heat, including Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary.
The current heatwave follows a July that saw the widest-ranging droughts on record for mainland France and Switzerland, according to an AFP analysis of data released by Europe’s Copernicus climate observatory. Europe’s weather warning system, MeteoAlarm, reported on Monday that scorching temperatures are already impacting much of Italy and the coastal areas of Croatia.
The United Kingdom’s Met Office warned over the weekend that the summer’s fifth hot spell was taking hold in a country whose infrastructure was designed for a more temperate climate. Nearly three-quarters of England and the entirety of Wales are officially in drought, with over 27 million people under water-use restrictions. The environment department warned Monday that all regions of the country are experiencing significant pressure on water resources, with no rain forecast for the affected areas this week.
In France, Meteo-France warned that the southeast would see temperatures reaching 35C, with heat spreading further across the country throughout the week. The agency noted that due to climate change, future summers will generally be hotter than those experienced to date. The environment ministry reported that nearly 70 percent of French territory is subject to water-use restrictions, prioritizing healthcare, sanitation, and drinking water.
The wildfire situation remains critical. Greece reported its second major fire of the season near Athens on Monday, requiring hundreds of crew members and specialized equipment. Already, more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of pine forests were blackened by a blaze that broke out 10 days ago northwest of the capital. Meanwhile, firefighters in southwestern Spain are struggling to contain a rapidly expanding blaze that has forced the evacuation of at least 800 people, with local officials stating the weather offers no respite.
The European Space Agency’s observatory in Teruel, Spain, will host a day of activities leading up to a solar eclipse event. The eclipse is scheduled to begin at 7:33 pm CEST (1733 GMT) and reach totality at 8:23 pm. The area saw temperatures breach 30C on Monday, and the eclipse path will cross regions recently devastated by Spanish wildfires.
Data analysis reveals the scale of the disaster: 95 percent of mainland France and 99 percent of Switzerland saw drought conditions in July, both record figures since the European Drought Observatory began collecting data in 2012. Nearly 120 million Europeans live in regions where July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded. Furthermore, an AFP analysis of national statistics found that at least 12,000 excess deaths occurred across nine European countries during one heatwave in June, a toll expected to rise as more data becomes available.
Rivers across the continent are hitting record lows. Industry groups warned Monday that the Rhine in Germany could become unnavigable, while Polish officials announced that the Vistula, the country’s longest river, matched its record low in Warsaw on Monday—a record that had only been set the previous Friday. Low levels along the Danube forced Hungary and Romania to consider shuttering nuclear plants that rely on the water for cooling, a measure both nations have struggled to avoid.
Source: Gulf Today
