On Thursday, millions across Europe, particularly in France, Italy, Spain, and Britain, experienced a surge in extreme temperatures as the continent grappled with its latest heatwave. This weather event marks a significant escalation in temperature patterns, raising concerns among climate scientists and public health officials alike.
The central development
Temperatures were to surpass 30C for nearly three out of five European residents around 340 million people according to an AFP analysis based on German weather service forecasts and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre. In London, temperatures hit 38.1C at Kew Gardens, making it the fifth-hottest day on record for Britain, according to official weather agency the Met Office.
“It’s scary,” Williamson said of the heatwaves. “I think it’s a real sign about how bad climate change has really got.” Europe is the fastest-warming continent and in some places is ill-equipped to deal with hot weather. Scientists blame ever hotter and more frequent heatwaves on human-caused climate change.
What Happens Next
In France, temperatures climbed even higher, with weather service Meteo-France recording 42.5C in Chateaumeillant in central France, the country’s highest reading on Thursday. Large parts of the Iberian Peninsula also sweltered, with around 25 million people affected in Spain. AFP calculates the figures using a method similar to that of Klimadashboard, cross-referencing population density with the weather forecast model from the Deutscher Wetterdienst Germany’s national meteorological service published at 0300 GMT.
“We might have summers like this more often, and the grass will burn off more often, and it’ll come back. But it’s all part of the planet getting hotter. The country’s Aemet weather agency recorded temperatures of 37C in central regions on Thursday.
