France Raises Heat Alert to Level 3 as 40C Temperatures Push Europe Crisis East
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 25
France Raises Heat Alert to Level 3 as 40C Temperatures Push Europe Crisis East
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 25
Summary
France moved its Orsan health emergency plan to level 3, the highest alert, to reinforce hospital staffing as officials reported heat-linked deaths among young people as well as the elderly.
41C in Rennes and a 22C national average overnight low underscored the strain: Paris said mortality is rising, Rennes intensive care units were saturated, and emergency doctors linked five or six home deaths in the region to the heat.
The heatwave is now shifting east, with Germany and the Czech Republic warning temperatures could reach 40C, while Luxembourg extended a red alert and transport operators in Germany and the Czech Republic urged travelers to postpone trips.
Three French nuclear plants went offline as western France braced for thunderstorms with 110 km/h gusts, forcing the first day of the Garorock festival to be canceled.
Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, according to Copernicus, and UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the deadly heatwave bears the fingerprints of the climate crisis.
With heatwaves now a deadly norm, are European cities fundamentally redesigning their infrastructure for survival?
New science reveals dry heat is as deadly as humid heat. Is our current public health advice dangerously outdated?
2026 France and European Heatwave: Record-Breaking Temperatures, Public Health Crisis, and Urgent Adaptation Needs
Overview
As of June 25, 2026, a major heatwave that began in central and western Europe last week has rapidly spread, affecting millions and prompting severe warnings across the region. The United Kingdom issued a rare red heat alert, while Italy faced critical conditions with multiple red alerts in its northern and central areas. The heatwave is expected to last through at least June 26, with over 100 million people in Europe forecast to experience extreme temperatures above 35°C. This event highlights the growing impact of extreme heat on public health and the urgent need for effective emergency responses.