LONDON — Europe's intense heat wave continued to intensify on Saturday with record temperatures spreading eastward from Western Europe, forecasters said, as authorities issued warnings for extreme conditions across the continent.
France, Spain, the United Kingdom and other western nations bore the brunt earlier in the week, with several countries recording their hottest June temperatures on record. The heat is now shifting toward central and eastern parts of the continent, according to meteorological services.
Météo-France reported that the country experienced its hottest day since records began on June 23, with a peak of 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 Fahrenheit) in Pissos in southwestern France. Britain's Met Office confirmed a provisional June record of 36.4 C (97.5 F) in Yeovilton on Thursday, surpassing the previous mark set a day earlier.
The heat dome, driven by a persistent high-pressure system known as an Omega block, has brought dangerous conditions and prompted red-level alerts in multiple countries. Schools closed or shortened hours in parts of Britain and France, while power disruptions affected thousands in France.
Spanish authorities reported temperatures exceeding 40 C in several regions, with a high of 45.1 C recorded in Andújar. Germany saw readings up to 41.3 C in Saarbrücken.
Health officials have linked the extreme heat to fatalities. Spain's MoMo monitoring system estimated 212 heat-related deaths since June 21. In France, authorities reported dozens of drowning deaths as people sought relief in water, along with other heat-related incidents including deaths of elderly people and young children left in vehicles.
"Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we're expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many," said Mark Sidaway, deputy chief forecaster at the UK's Met Office.
As the heat moves eastward, forecasters warned of continued high temperatures into central Europe, including Germany, Poland and Austria, with potential records in coming days. Italy placed multiple cities on its highest heat alert.
Authorities across the region urged residents to take precautions, including staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity during peak heat hours and checking on vulnerable populations. Wildfire risks have also increased in drier areas.
Meteorological services said the heat wave, unusually early and intense for the season, is expected to persist in eastern areas through early next week before a potential cooldown. Details on the full extent of impacts remained under assessment as of Saturday.
