Europe braced for another day of extreme heat on Wednesday as a record-breaking heatwave swept across the continent, driving temperatures to unprecedented levels and triggering a surge in demand for cooling equipment in countries largely unprepared for such conditions.
Scientists say the prolonged heat is being fuelled by atmospheric circulation patterns that trap hot air over affected regions for days at a time, a phenomenon intensified by human-induced climate change.
In France, the national temperature indicator — which averages daytime and night-time readings from 30 weather stations — reached 29.8C on Tuesday, the highest level recorded since measurements began in 1947.
The soaring temperatures have prompted a sharp rise in sales of fans and air conditioners in a country where most homes and public buildings lack adequate cooling systems.
Retail giant Carrefour said it sold 30,000 cooling units by early Monday evening, around 1,000 times the normal daily volume. Online retailer Amazon reported that sales of cooling devices nearly doubled compared with the same period last year, while electronics chain Fnac Darty recorded double-digit growth.
Demand has also overwhelmed installers. Thierry, an electrician in south-west France, said he had been inundated with requests for emergency air-conditioning installations.
In Bordeaux, 62-year-old retiree Martine Belloc sought refuge from the heat at a co-working space that opened its doors to elderly residents.
French authorities expanded the highest-level heat alert to four additional departments on Wednesday, bringing the number of people affected to around 44 million. Combined with areas under orange alert, more than 90 per cent of the French population is now exposed to extreme heat.
Temperatures between 39C and 41C were forecast across large parts of the country, including Brittany, the Paris region and the south-west.
Tourists have also struggled. American visitor John Beeler described conditions in Paris as unbearable, saying the heat had made sightseeing extremely difficult.
Italy’s Health Ministry issued red heatwave alerts for 16 cities, including Rome and Milan, while several countries in Central and Eastern Europe prepared for worsening conditions.
Poland issued high-level heat warnings for its western regions from Thursday to Saturday, with temperatures potentially exceeding the national record of 40.2C set in 1921.
Croatia placed parts of its Adriatic coast under red alert for Friday and Saturday, while Hungary raised its heat warning to the highest level from Saturday through Tuesday.
A scientific study published this week found that the ongoing heatwave has been significantly intensified by climate change, estimating that temperatures would have been between 2C and 4C lower without human influence on the climate.
Spain, however, may begin to see some relief, with the national weather agency forecasting falling temperatures across most of the country from Wednesday. By Thursday, no region is expected to remain under the highest alert levels.
Elsewhere in Western Europe, conditions are expected to remain severe. Parts of the Netherlands will remain under an orange alert for extreme heat until at least Friday. Amsterdam has offered free access to selected outdoor swimming pools for residents with city passes, while the Dutch national rail operator plans to reduce services on some routes because of the heat.
In the United Kingdom, schools have been forced to adapt to unusually high temperatures. Education leaders said most schools across the country would implement measures to protect pupils and staff during the heatwave.
Several major tourist attractions have also adjusted operations. Following restrictions at sites such as the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Brussels’ iconic Atomium announced it would close earlier than usual from Wednesday to Friday due to the extreme temperatures.
