Europe Heatwave: Dozens Drown, Record Temperatures Expected

Published 06/22/2026Published June 22, 2026

Dozens of people have drowned in France and Germany in recent days as people seek relief from "oppressive" heat. In Italy, more than a dozen cities are on high alert for extreme heat. DW has the latest.

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Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

Temperatures expected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in major Western European cities

France and Germany record numerous drownings over the weekend

Two children discovered dead in car in France during scorching temperatures

Italy urges people to avoid sun exposure and strenuous outdoor activity

Britain's Met Office issues rare red warning for heat starting Wednesday

Follow along for more through the day and this week for the latest developments on the June 2026 European heatwave:

Skip next section Dozens drown in France as people seek respite from heat

06/23/2026June 23, 2026

Dozens drown in France as people seek respite from heat

Dozens of people have drowned in France in recent days as people attempt to cool off during the heat wave.

Speaking after a crisis cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said some 40 deaths had been recorded since last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said many drownings occurred over the weekend in particular.

"There ​have been around 20 deaths since ⁠last ​weekend," Ferrari told France Inter ‌radio on Tuesday.

"To go swimming in ​unauthorised ⁠areas, during a heatwave, is not ⁠something ​to take lightly."

Neighboring Germany also recorded a number of drownings over the weekend.

https://p.dw.com/p/5FtEX

Skip next section Frances braces for 'record-breaking,' 'oppressive' and 'exhausting' heat

06/23/2026June 23, 2026

Frances braces for 'record-breaking,' 'oppressive' and 'exhausting' heat

France's national weather service placed 54 departments across the country on red alert on Tuesday.

Daytime highs are expected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many towns throughout the rest of the week.

"Sunshine continues to dominate across France, maintaining oppressive and exhausting heat throughout the country," Meteo France said.

"Further record-breaking temperatures are expected, including some that could surpass all previous records, regardless of the time of year," it added.

France's heat wave has arrived exceptionally early in the summer. It is already being compared to the August 2003 heat wave that caused an estimated 15,000 deaths, many of whom were older people living in apartments and retirement homes in a country without widespread air conditioning.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is due to chair a crisis meeting on the heat wave with cabinet ministers on Tuesday morning.

https://p.dw.com/p/5FtBj

Skip next section Italy declares heat red alert in 15 cities, recommends eating pasta

06/23/2026June 23, 2026

Italy declares heat red alert in 15 cities, recommends eating pasta

Rana Taha Editor

Italy's Health Ministry issued the highest-level heat wave warning in 15 cities on Tuesday.

Cities including Rome, Milan, Turin and Venice were subjected to a level 3 red dot on the national heat wave bulletin.

Official advice from the Italian Health Ministry during a red alert includes spending time in airconditioned public places, avoiding direct sun exposure and strenuous outdoor physical activity, wearing high-SPF sunscreen, and eating lightly — with pasta and fish explicitly recommended over heavier options like meat.

The warm weather is expected to continue for at least another day, with another red alert being issued for 16 cities on Wednesday.

How did Romans beat the heat 100 years ago?

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Skip next section Rising temperatures increasing risk of forest fires in Germany

06/23/2026June 23, 2026

Rising temperatures increasing risk of forest fires in Germany

Rising temperatures are increasing the chances of forest fires in Germany, especially in the south and east, the national meteorological service said.

Currently only some regions — including Brandenburg, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg — are at level 4 out of 5, indicating high-risk of wildfires.

From Wednesday, the German Meterological Service (DWD) predicts greater forest fire risk for large parts of southern and eastern Germany.

The situation could deteriorate further as the week goes on.

For Thursday and Friday, meteorologists predict the highest danger level in several regions, including areas west of Berlin.

Heat alone does not cause fire, but high temperatures, dry conditions, low humidity strongly influence the spread of fire.

A significant proportion of forest fires is caused by arson, due to economic motives and personal gain.

https://p.dw.com/p/5FsXC

Skip next section Mexico, Italy and others see up to two more months of heat stress than in the 1970s, study says

06/23/2026June 23, 2026

Mexico, Italy and others see up to two more months of heat stress than in the 1970s, study says

Dmytro Hubenko Editor

Mexico, Kenya, Italy and other nations around the world are experiencing one to two more months of heat stress than they were several decades ago, a new study published Monday said.

Heat stress and extreme feels-like temperatures have become more frequent and severe over the past six decades because of an acceleration of global warming, according to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The researchers went beyond temperatures and studied feels-like temperatures to understand more of the impact on people.

They assessed heat stress on individual humans, influenced by temperature, humidity, and more.

Regions previously untouched by heat stress are now feeling it too.

According to the study, the feels-like temperatures on the ten warmest nights of each year have also increased faster — 0.32 degrees Celsius (0.58 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade — than the ten warmest days, 0.27 degrees Celsius (0.49 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade.

For tropical nights, the researchers considered minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). This means people might not be recovering properly from daytime heat in the overnight hours.

And now, one billion more people face at least one day of extreme heat stress each year than they did in the 1970s.

https://p.dw.com/p/5FsNI

Skip next section Hot weather leads to weekend drownings, say German lifeguards

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

Hot weather leads to weekend drownings, say German lifeguards

The German Life Saving Association (DLRG), the largest volunteer lifeguard association in the world, says it registered six drowning deaths over the weekend, and three were recorded last Thursday alone, as people sought relief from extreme heat.

"Unfortunately, fears of repeated deadly accidents were not unfounded," said a DLRG spokesperson on Monday, noting that more cases could be registered after the fact.

The DLRG regularly warns of the dangers of drowning in Germany's pools, ponds, lakes and rivers.

The DLRG said one group in particular, men, and more specifically young men, consistently put themselves in harm's way.

"Over and over we see men overestimating their abilities and putting themselves in risk situations that are easily avoidable," said DLRG President Ute Vogt.

In 2025, men accounted for four-in-five drowning deaths — 82%.

All of the six individuals who drowned over the weekend were men ranging in age from 19 to 53.

Four more individuals, also men, remain missing.

Beyond lack of swimming skills, the DLRG also made clear that people should not simply jump into cold water when they are hot, but enter slowly to allow the body to adjust to potentially extreme temperature differences.

Moreover, the DLRG recommends always swimming in monitored swimming areas and warns against swimming alone.

https://p.dw.com/p/5FsBL

Skip next section France set to break June temperature record, with some areas topping 40C

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

France set to break June temperature record, with some areas topping 40C

Temperatures in France on Monday have shattered records, according to weather service Meteo-France.

Meteo-France, citing provisional data, said France's national heat index, the average of the day and night-time highs measured at 30 weather stations around the country, hit 29.2 degrees Celsius (84.5 F) on Monday, the highest level ever recorded in June. The previous high was reached June 30 of last year.

All-time heat records were also shattered on Monday, with the temperature in Bordeaux, located in the southwestern wine country, hitting 41.9 degrees Celsius (107.4 F), breaking a record set last ‌August.

Poitiers in ⁠central ⁠France reached 41.2 C, beating a previous high set in 1947.

Paris sweat through its hottest-ever night for June, with the temperature not getting below 24.2 Celsius (75.5 F). The French capital broke another June record with 37.7 C (99.9 F) recorded Monday afternoon.

Over the weekend, authorities banned the sale of alcohol for the the Fete de la Musique street parties taking place in Paris, and cities around the country.

The French weather agency warned that the current heat wave would continue to be "widespread, long-lasting and intense," with temperatures expected to remain high through at least the end of the week.

Meteorologists say that of the 51 heatwaves recorded in the country since 1947, 34 have taken place since 2000 — and 26 since 2011.

The current heat wave, they warn, could ultimately rival one that killed 15,000 people in France in August 2003.

At least 18 people have died so far in France in connection with the current round of extreme heat, including two children left in a car.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Fs1m

Skip next section Could temperatures in Germany reach 40°C?

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

Could temperatures in Germany reach 40°C?

Like much of Europe, Germany is set to continue baking throughout this week with the country in the grip of a major heatwave.

On Sunday, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) said that the usually cooler regions in the north of the country would be affected and even predicted that temperatures could reach 40°C (104°F) in certain parts of the southwest.

The intense heat brings with it an increased chance of severe storms, as in Berlin, where the fire brigade attended around 160 call-outs over the weekend.

Trees were blown over and some of the 300 stages hosting the "Fete de la Musique" music festival across the city were damaged but, fortunately, no serious accidents or injuries were reported.

However, there was one fatality in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt where sudden torrents of rain caused a motorway accident in which a driver lost control of a vehicle. One woman died and four other passengers were injured.

According to the DWD, temperatures are not expected to drop until next week.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Frxi

Skip next section Britain's Met Office issues rare red warning, London and Birmingham affected

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

Britain's Met Office issues rare red warning, London and Birmingham affected

Britain's top meteorological authority, the Met Office, has issued a red warning for extreme heat for parts of central and southern England and Wales.

The warning will last from 09:00 on Wednesday, June 24 to 21:00 on Thursday, June 25.

The warning includes not only the major cities of London and Birmingham but also the historic town of Bath.

"It is now likely the current highest temperature on record for June will be broken, this being 35.6C recorded in Southampton in June 1976 and Camden Square in June 1957," the forecaster said.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Frvt

Skip next section Two children found dead in car in sweltering southern France

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

Two children found dead in car in sweltering southern France

Two children aged 2 and 4 were found dead in a car in the southern town of Carpentras, with investigators suspecting the deaths are the result of the heatwave.

"The causes of death are yet to be determined, but the heatwave is the leading line of inquiry," said Helene Mourges, the Carpentras prosecutor.

The prosecutor said the children ​were found unconscious by their mother in the family car outside their home

Temperatures on Monday were expected to hit as high as 38 degrees Celsius (101 degrees Fahrenheit) in Carpentras.

French authorities have warned parents not to leave their children in unattended vehicles.

Hottest-ever June night in Paris

Much of France is under the "red alert" for heat, with temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius forecast for some regions.

Meteo France said several towns in western and central France experienced their hottest night ever Sunday to Monday.

Paris experienced its hottest-ever night for June, with the temperature not dropping below 24.2 C (75.5 F).

The French capital broke another June record with 37.7 C (99.9 F) recorded Monday afternoon.

https://p.dw.com/p/5FrvB

Skip next section What's the latest on the European heat wave?

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

What's the latest on the European heat wave?

Here's a short summary in bullet points of the latest on Monday as Europe bakes under a heat wave:

Europe is currently under a high-pressure system known as a 'heat dome,' that keeps hot air in place

Parts of Germany are seeing high temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)

In France, two children died in a car in the southern town of Carpentras, where temperatures had been expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius

French forecasters have warned this year's scorching temperatures could be as serious as the 2003 heat wave, where 15,000 people in France died

The UK's top meteorological authority issued the highest level of heat warming for parts of central and southern England for Wednesday and Thursday

Parts of northern Portugal are under orange weather alerts due to high temperatures

How to survive heat waves in the city

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Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

06/22/2026June 22, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Wesley Rahn Editor

Europeans this week are suffering under a scorching "heat dome," with some parts of the continent not expected to see relief until next Monday.

Follow along with DW this week as we look at how the heatwave is impacting people in Europe and society.

Many Europeans, particularly in the northern part of the continent, do not have air conditioning in their homes, making the heat phenomenon even more unbearable and in some cases deadly.

Stay tuned for more!

Summer Solstice brings intense heat wave to Europe

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