Madrid/London: Spain and England have both experienced their hottest June on record, as a scorching and prolonged heatwave continues to grip much of Europe. The unprecedented temperatures have led to widespread health alerts, significant disruptions, and tragic fatalities across the continent.
Spain’s national weather service, AEMET, reported an “extremely hot” June with an average temperature of 23.6°C, shattering previous records and surpassing the typical averages for July and August. In England, the Met Office confirmed that June’s mean temperature of 16.9°C set a new record for the month, while the UK as a whole saw its second warmest June since records began in 1884.
The heatwave has been particularly severe across Southern Europe. Mainland Portugal recorded a new daily temperature record for June, hitting an astonishing 46.6°C. Wildfires, fanned by the intense heat and dry conditions, have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Turkey, particularly from the western province of Izmir. In Italy, two separate heat-related deaths have been reported, and several regions have implemented bans on outdoor work during the hottest hours.
Overnight into the first day of July, AEMET reported that several locations across the Iberian Peninsula had already exceeded 43°C. While a slight respite in temperatures is anticipated from Thursday, the immediate impact remains significant. The extreme heat has prompted health warnings and school closures in countries like France, where the summit of the iconic Eiffel Tower was also temporarily closed to visitors for safety.
Experts are linking the increasing frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, with the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service stating that Europe is heating up at twice the global average speed, making it the world’s fastest-warming continent. The abnormally high temperatures in June are more typical of July and August, underscoring the early onset and severity of this summer’s heat.
