France records hottest June day; heatwave claims lives across Europe
France recorded an average temperature of 29.2°C on June 22, a new June record. The extreme heat caused deaths, closed schools, and spread to Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, and Spain.
France's national meteorological service France‑Météo announced that on the morning of June 22, the country's mean temperature—calculated from day and night readings—reached 29.2°C, a new record for June and surpassing the previous maximum recorded on June 30, 2025.
Last week, France was hit by extreme heat. On June 22, more than half of the country was under a red alert warning of overheating risks. In many regions, temperatures exceeded 40°C. Local records were set in Rennes, Bordeaux, and Angers.
In the southeastern city of Carpentras, two children aged two and four were found dead in their parents' car on June 22. Investigators link their deaths to overheating. On June 20–21, three heat‑related fatalities were recorded. Additionally, more than a dozen drowning deaths were reported.
On June 22, over 1,350 schools in France canceled classes, and more than 4,000 schools shortened lessons so students could go home around noon.
The heatwave also affected other European countries. In Belgium, some trains were canceled during rush hour to avoid technical failures, similar to France. The Royal Meteorological Institute expects a new temperature record next weekend.
The Netherlands forecasts temperatures up to 37°C by the end of the week. In the UK, a red heat warning is in effect for central and southern England on June 24–25, with temperatures up to 40°C expected in London, Birmingham, Bath, and other cities.
In southwestern Germany, Baden‑Württemberg is expected to reach 40°C in the next two to three days. Bavaria, Rhineland‑Palatinate, and North Rhine‑Westphalia will approach but not reach that mark. Spain's Aemet warned of "extremely high" daytime and nighttime temperatures until June 24, urging residents to keep windows closed and avoid using heat‑emitting appliances.
