"Too Hot to Travel": Tourists Flee as 40-Degree Heatwave Paralyzes Europe

European Countries Issue Alerts Across the Continent
"Impact Expected Across All Facets of Society"

As a heatwave sweeps across Europe, countries are ramping up emergency responses. In some regions, damages are mounting, including the cancellation of train services and exams.

On the 21st (local time), a family passed by a mist sprayer installed around the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to reports from international media such as AFP on June 23 (local time), the European continent is currently boiling under a heatwave with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius. On June 20, France issued a red heatwave alert—the highest level—for 35 out of its 96 regions nationwide. Temperatures in southern areas like Paris and Burgundy are expected to reach 39–40 degrees, with some regions forecast to hit as high as 41 degrees.

In Germany, with temperatures in most areas approaching 38 degrees, a heatwave warning has been issued. The German Weather Service also warned that the combination of extreme heat and high humidity is destabilizing the atmosphere, raising the risk of storms.

Italy's Ministry of Health issued a red alert for heatwaves in 15 cities nationwide, including Rome and Milan, on the same day. The red alert is the highest level of heat warning, and authorities have advised citizens to stay indoors during the hottest periods.

Exams Canceled, Nuclear Power Plant Operations Disrupted

Nuclear power plant in southern France. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

The extreme heat is also causing disruptions such as suspended train operations and the closure of event venues, directly impacting the public. In Madrid, Spain, the “fan zone” set up for outdoor viewing of the 2026 North and Central America FIFA World Cup was shut down. In Rome, Italy, some tourists visiting the Colosseum had to seek shelter in underground ruins due to the heat.

France’s state-owned railway company, SNCF, canceled 71 long-distance trains due to the risk of air conditioning failures, while several schools postponed final exams or switched to shortened classes and emergency measures. France is also preparing for the possibility of reduced nuclear power plant operations during this summer.

French nuclear power plants use river water, not seawater, for cooling, but temperatures of rivers adjacent to land are rising rapidly due to the intense heat. Electricite de France (EDF) announced it would limit output at four nuclear plants, citing abnormally high temperatures in the Rhone and Garonne rivers.

Hot African Air Mass Flows into Europe

Temperature anomalies across Europe as of the 20th (local time) according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Most regions in Europe are experiencing abnormal high temperatures 8 to 12 degrees above the average last year. ECMWF

The cause of the current European heatwave has been identified as a “heat dome” formed over Western Europe. A mass of hot air from the Sahara Desert in North Africa has become trapped over Europe by high atmospheric pressure, causing temperatures to soar. In addition, strong summer sunlight is heating the ground, further contributing to the temperature rise.

On this topic, British Met Office forecaster Tom Crabtree warned the previous day, “This heatwave is not only breaking June temperature records but, due to high humidity, is also having severe impacts. The stifling heat is expected to continue, potentially affecting all aspects of society—including public health, infrastructure, power, and water supply.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.