Europe heatwave 2025 : A severe marine heat wave in the Mediterranean Sea, coupled with a powerful heat dome, is causing Europe to endure an intense early summer heat wave.
This pattern is becoming increasingly common as global temperatures rise. In recent summers, Mediterranean marine heat waves have had a growing impact—fueling extreme land temperatures, worsening floods, and intensifying wildfires.
Currently, water temperatures in the Mediterranean are as much as 9 degrees above the seasonal average due to the ongoing marine heat wave.
Climate Change Behind Surge in Heatwaves and Marine Temperature Spikes
The most extreme warming is occurring in the western Mediterranean, particularly just south of France.
This is driving a surge of high humidity northward, keeping nighttime temperatures unusually high in areas impacted by the heat wave.
Additionally, the heat wave—fueled in part by hot air moving north from Africa—is intensifying the marine heat wave, creating a reinforcing feedback loop.
Mediterranean Marine Heat Wave and Heat Dome Push Europe to Breaking Point
Record-breaking temperatures have scorched parts of Spain and Portugal, with more records expected to tumble across Europe through Wednesday as the heat wave worsens.
In the Spanish town of El Granado, temperatures soared to 46 degrees Celsius on Sunday, setting a new national June record, according to Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET.
Spain experienced its hottest June on record last month, with temperatures “shattering records,” according to AEMET on Tuesday.
In Portugal, a preliminary reading of 46.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in the city of Mora, around 130 kilometers east of Lisbon.
If confirmed, it would mark a new national high for June, according to the country’s meteorological agency, IPMA.
Meanwhile, blistering heat is sweeping across nearly all of France, where many towns and cities saw temperatures climb above 37 degrees Celsius on Monday, based on provisional data from Météo France.
Record Temperatures in Spain, Portugal, and France Set New Highs
A red alert—the highest level of heat wave warning—has been issued for 16 French départements on Tuesday, including Île-de-France, home to Paris.
Due to the extreme heat, the summit of the Eiffel Tower is closed to visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday, with staff urging tourists to take necessary precautions.
Eiffel Tower Closes, Schools Shut Down Amid Red Heat Alert in France
We apologize for the inconvenience,” read a message on the Eiffel Tower’s official website. “During this period of intense heat, please remember to protect yourself from the sun and stay well hydrated.
Schools across France have shut down as the nation endures intense, scorching heat this week.
The United Kingdom is also facing sweltering conditions, currently experiencing its second heat wave of the summer.
On Monday, temperatures climbed above 32 degrees Celsius, creating uncomfortable conditions in a country where less than 5% of homes are equipped with air conditioning.
This June-July heat wave is putting millions of Europeans under significant heat stress,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting.
Such temperatures are more typical of July and August and usually occur only a few times each summer.
UK, Germany, and Italy Grapple With Soaring Heat and Safety Concerns
As temperatures soar, wildfires are erupting across multiple countries. In southwestern France’s Aude region, fires broke out on Sunday, scorching nearly 161 hectares of land.
In Turkey, around 50,000 people have been evacuated as firefighters battle intense blazes, particularly in the western provinces of Izmir and Manisa.
In parts of Italy, authorities have restricted outdoor labor—such as construction and quarry work—during the hottest hours of the day. To help residents stay cool, local governments have introduced creative solutions, including free museum access and designated “climate oases.
Wildfires, Evacuations, and Work Bans as Europe Faces Climate Extremes
Temperature records are also expected to be broken in Germany on Wednesday, as the expanding heat dome shifts eastward—though relief may be on the horizon with cooler fronts moving into northwestern Europe later in the week.
Human-driven climate change is making heat waves more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting. Europe, warming at twice the global average, is the fastest-warming continent. Climate change is also contributing to the increasing frequency and severity of marine heat waves.
Leave a Reply