In Paris, a family seeks relief from the heat by passing through a water spray near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Across France, millions woke up on Tuesday drenched in sweat due to intense heat. Most of the country continues to endure extreme temperatures.
Temperatures remain high as Meteo France, the national weather service, places 54 departments under a red heat wave alert. Without widespread air conditioning, schools, trains, and sporting events face disruptions. Approximately 20 drowning incidents have occurred since the weekend.
Sunshine dominates across France, maintaining oppressive and exhausting heat throughout the country.– Meteo France
The heat wave is projected to last through the week, with daytime highs surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in numerous locations. In Rennes, a drugstore sign displayed a temperature of 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Meteo France also anticipates additional record-breaking temperatures, some potentially surpassing all historical records. The heat wave strikes unusually early in the summer, with its duration still uncertain. Comparisons are being made to the August 2003 heat wave, which caused an estimated 15,000 deaths, largely among the elderly in inadequately cooled facilities. France initiated a heat watch warning system following that event.
Europe is undergoing rapid warming, heating up at twice the global average rate since the 1980s, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Over four years, heat-related causes led to over 200,000 deaths across Europe, most of which were deemed preventable, according to the World Health Organization’s Europe office.
Excessive temperatures pose risks such as heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. The EU monitoring agency highlighted that 2024 was the hottest year on record globally, while Europe experienced its second-highest number of ‘heat stress’ days. Scientists indicate climate change amplifies the frequency and severity of heat and dryness, making southeastern Europe particularly prone to health issues and wildfires.