A brutal heatwave is scorching Europe, with Paris placing the region under a red alert as temperatures climb to dangerous highs. Schools are shutting down, wildfire risks are intensifying, and emergency measures are being rolled out across multiple countries.
In France, more than 1,350 schools suspended classes on Tuesday due to unbearable indoor heat. In the capital, parents were urged to keep children at home again on Wednesday. Entire cities like Troyes and Melun opted to close all schools as temperatures soared, prompting national education officials to begin talks on redesigning heat-vulnerable school buildings.
Spain, meanwhile, has broken new temperature records. According to the national weather agency Aemet, June 2025 averaged 23.6°C, the highest on record—surpassing the previous peak from 2017. The province of Huelva in Andalusia even hit a blistering 46°C, the hottest June day ever recorded in the country.
Greece is also facing the brunt of the heat. After some temporary relief from weekend winds, temperatures in Athens shot back up to 38°C on Tuesday. Authorities opened air-conditioned shelters for the elderly and banned outdoor work as fire departments braced for more wildfires.
Across the Mediterranean, red alerts have been issued in parts of Spain and Portugal as temperatures threaten to reach 42°C. In France, 84 departments have been placed on yellow or orange alert, with the southern city of Marseille already nearing 40°C. Fires in Aude led to the evacuation of a historic abbey and tourist sites.
Italy has not been spared, with cities like Naples and Palermo forecast to hit 39°C. Outdoor work is now restricted in Liguria between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Greece continues to battle blazes near Athens, forcing evacuations and road closures.
As the extreme heat wave expands, even Ukraine is expected to see temperatures between 28°C to 33°C by July 3, adding to the growing list of European regions facing the intensifying grip of climate-related threats.
