Over 135 Million Europeans Face 35C Temperatures as Fifth Summer Heatwave Builds

More than 135 million people across Europe — mostly in France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom — faced temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius on August 13 as the continent's latest heatwave built, with nearly three in five Europeans, about 340 million people, expected to feel temperatures surpassing 30C, the Al Jazeera reported, citing German weather service forecasts and European Commission population data.

Fifth Heatwave of the Summer

The UK and France were experiencing their fifth heatwave of the season, with forecasters predicting temperatures up to 38C in central and southeast England — possibly the hottest day of the year — and up to 40C in parts of France. Britain's Met Office said only average conditions were needed for the rest of August to beat last year's record for the hottest year ever. The UK's Royal College of Nursing said extreme heat was making parts of the National Health Service an impossible and inhumane place to work, reporting staff collapsing on shift and pregnant nursing staff working in temperatures above 30C.

Drought and Record Context

Both France and the UK face widespread drought as shriveled crops and drained rivers strain water supplies, following the hottest June and July on record in western Europe, which Copernicus climate data show ran 2.79C above the two-month average. Climate scientists note the heat comes as a strong El Niño develops in the Pacific, with MIT Technology Review reporting this month that the event could peak at over 3.5C above average — potentially making 2027 hotter still.