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Extreme heat also impacts economic activity, infrastructure, agriculture and ecosystems, the UN weather agency said said on Thursday, providing an overview of the situation.
France recorded its hottest day on record on June 24, with an average national temperature of 30.0°C, according to national meteorological service Météo-France, beating a record set only the previous day and surpassing previous national records in July 2019 and August 2003.
In the western city of Pulluau, temperatures rose to 43.8°C. Temperatures at night also reached new national highs. Authorities issued a high-level red alert for 58 departments, covering most of the country, and warned of an increased risk of forest fires as the drought worsens.
Deaths from drowning underscore the dangers of heat
WMO noted that 40 people were reported to have died in drowning accidents in France, underscoring the life-threatening dangers associated with heat.
Neighboring Spain also recorded its hottest June days on record (June 23 and 24) with temperatures above 40°C in some locations, according to national meteorological agency AEMET.
The UK assembly office issued a red extreme heat warning for 24 and 25 June and reported a new temporary daily high temperature in June of 36.1°C at Gosport, in southern England, on 24 June.
Meanwhile, Germany’s national weather service has also issued a widespread red alert, including in Bonn, Frankfurt and Cologne, while three Swiss cities – Geneva, Basel and Zurich – are also on red alert.
‘Fingerprints of the climate crisis’
UN climate chief Simon Stiell weighed in on the extreme temperatures in Europe, saying “vicious heat waves bear the fingerprints of the climate crisis across Europe”.
He be warned that “until humanity stops using coal, oil and gas, extreme heat will continue to get worse,” highlighting the need for countries to accelerate the shift to renewable energy, protect forests and increase climate resilience.
The heatwave is expected to spread across much of western, central and southern Europe over the next two weeks, according to a regional climate monitoring center that is part of the WMO network.
Forecasts show temperatures between 3°C and 10°C above the weekly average for this time of year, while daily maximum temperatures above 35°C are expected in many areas, with some locations in the southwest exceeding 40°C.
The night brought no relief
Many places are also likely to experience so-called “tropical nights”, when nighttime temperatures do not fall below 20°C (68°F). These conditions, which are increasingly common during heat waves and especially in cities, increase the risk of heat stress, forest fires and, in some areas, thunderstorms with hail.
Nighttime heat can be particularly dangerous because it hinders the body’s recovery, said Armel Castellan, technical advisor to the extreme heat service at the joint climate and health office of the WMO and the World Health Organization (WHO).
“That is why, when assessing the impact of heat waves on health, the minimum temperature can be more appropriate than the highest temperature in the afternoon,” he explained.
“Daytime temperatures reaching 38°C but dropping to 18°C overnight are in stark contrast to daytime temperatures reaching 36°C and remaining above 25°C all night. The second scenario carries much higher health risks.”
Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths, says WHO, and estimates that around 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred annually between 2000 and 2019.
Extreme heat impacts millions of people around the world.
The heat is on
A deadly European heat wave forms the backdrop keynote speech by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at London Climate Action Week on Monday.
“We’ve just had the eleventh hottest year on record,” he said. “Around the world, climate disasters are becoming more frequent, more destructive and more costly.”
He warned that El Niño risks “turning up the heat”, disrupting food and water systems, and having the worst impact on the most vulnerable communities.
El Niño, a naturally occurring weather pattern, is characterized by warming sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific.
Extreme heat is expected to occur with increasing frequency and intensity as climate change, the WMO said. The UN agency recently issued one update which states that El Niño will influence weather and climate patterns in the coming months, although its impact is usually greater outside Europe.
WMO is one of the UN agencies that supports this The Secretary-General’s Call for Action to Address Extreme Heatissued in July 2024. This resolution urges countries to protect vulnerable populations, protect workers, use data and science to increase economic and societal resilience, and limit global temperature rise.
WMO supports the Call to Action through Early Warning for All This initiative aims to ensure that communities everywhere receive timely warnings and clear information about how to protect themselves before dangerous hot weather or other dangers occur.
In conjunction with WHO, they have developed guidance on early warning systems for extreme heat and heat health that support national plans and emergency response efforts.
As heatwaves unfold across Europe, UN agencies emphasize that early warnings must lead to early action, which includes protecting people during the hottest hours, preparing health services, reducing heat exposure in homes and workplaces, and building cities that can withstand hotter climates.
