Europe’s heat crisis deepens as Britain, France brace for scorching temperatures

Britain is heading into its fifth heatwave of the summer, while France has placed 80 departments under orange heat alerts as large parts of Western Europe brace for another spell of extreme temperatures.

Forecasters expect temperatures to reach as high as 38°C in central and southeastern England, just below the country’s August record of 38.5°C, set in 2003, Euronews reports.

The latest heatwave comes as the UK continues to experience unusually hot conditions. The Met Office said earlier this week that even average temperatures for the remainder of August would be enough for 2026 to surpass last year’s record as the hottest year.

The prolonged heat has highlighted the country’s limited preparedness for extreme temperatures. Air conditioning remains uncommon outside shops and offices, while hospitals have faced particularly difficult working conditions.

Nurses have reportedly collapsed from heat exhaustion, according to the Royal College of Nursing.

“When nursing staff are collapsing, feeling dizzy, sick or even being admitted to the very hospitals they work in because their workplaces cannot handle the heat, it shows just how badly they are being failed,” RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary Professor Nicola Ranger said.

Much of Britain is now officially experiencing drought conditions, putting additional pressure on water supplies for households, agriculture and the environment. Authorities face both immediate and long-term challenges in managing water resources amid human-caused climate change.

In France, 80 departments have been placed under orange heat alerts through Friday as the country endures another period of exceptionally high temperatures.

The French government estimates that successive extreme heat events this summer could cost the economy between €10 billion and €15 billion.

With the exception of parts of the northeast, three departments in the Pyrenees, Lozère and Haute-Loire, which remain under yellow alerts, most of France is under orange warnings.

The highest temperatures are expected from Centre-Val de Loire to Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where temperatures could reach “between 38 and 40°C, or even a bit more at peak points.” Temperatures in the Île-de-France region are expected to approach 38°C.

Water shortages are also becoming an increasing concern after an exceptionally hot and dry summer.

“Our first priority remains obviously drinking water supply, which is already under strain in several areas, more specifically today in 50 French départements,” Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut said.

According to the French government, “more than 40,000” people are currently affected by disruptions to tap water supplies.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent and remains poorly equipped in some areas to cope with extreme heat. Repeated heatwaves have contributed to an exceptionally hot summer marked by drought and wildfires, with thousands of heat-related deaths reported across the continent.

By Vafa Guliyeva