France Faces Record Heat and Power Outages as Europe’s Heatwave Expands

France faces record heat and widespread power outages amid a severe heatwave spreading across Europe, with temperatures soaring above 40°C and multiple regions under red alerts.

Power Outages and Record Temperatures in France

Tens of thousands of homes in western France are currently without power amid a record-breaking heatwave expected to peak on Wednesday. Approximately 67,000 homes in Brittany have been affected since Tuesday evening due to a transformer issue, with electricity restoration unlikely before Wednesday night, according to authorities.

More than half of France remains under a red heat alert, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 43°C (109.4°F) in the southwest later in the day, according to Météo France. This follows the country’s hottest day on record on Tuesday, which saw an average temperature of 29.8°C (85.54°F).

The southwestern town of Pissos in the Landes region recorded a scorching 44.3°C on Tuesday, Météo France reported. Additionally, the country experienced its warmest night ever from Monday night into Tuesday, with an average temperature of 29.9°C nationwide.

Map plotting key cities across Europe, and the top temperatures that are forecast in each place. — Image caption, The top temperatures forecast across Europe on Wednesday - with France expected to see the hottest conditions

Heatwave Spreads Across Western Europe

The heatwave has extended to other parts of western Europe on Wednesday. The Netherlands has issued an orange alert for dangerous weather in some regions, while a rare red heat alert is in place for parts of the United Kingdom, where temperatures could reach 40°C on Thursday.

Temperatures are expected to peak in the Netherlands and Belgium on Friday, with Germany anticipating highs of 40°C over the weekend. The heatwave is also forecast to move into eastern Europe in the coming days, with severe heat warnings issued for Poland, Croatia, and Hungary later this week.

Map of France showing heatwave alert levels valid until 24 June 2026. Most of the country, including Paris and Nantes, is shaded dark red for “exceptionally high heat.” Eastern regions around Lyon are orange for “very high heat,” while parts of the far south and Mediterranean coast near Marseille are yellow for “high heat.” A legend at the top explains the colour coding, and major cities are marked and labelled. Source: Météo France, BBC.

France’s Heatwave Impact and Alerts

France, Spain, and Italy have been the hardest hit by the heatwave so far. Since last Thursday, 40 people have drowned in heatwave-related incidents in France, according to the prime minister.

On Wednesday, Météo France extended red alerts to four additional regions, bringing the total to 58, with 31 more regions under an orange alert. By 05:00 local time, La Rochelle in the southwest had already recorded 29°C.

High temperatures of 39 to 40°C are forecast across much of western France, from Paris to Brittany, and are expected to persist through the weekend. Bordeaux may break its all-time temperature record for the third consecutive day; the previous record was 41.6°C on 11 August 2025, but temperatures reached 41.8°C on Monday and 42.1°C on Tuesday.

Some relief is anticipated from Friday, with temperatures expected to gradually decrease over the weekend. This cooling will be accompanied by thunderstorms, which carry risks of flash flooding and large hail.

Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou commented on French radio,

"we're in the process of finding out we've become a hot country".

Authorities have also warned of an increased risk of forest fires during this prolonged and intense heatwave.

In the Maine-et-Loire region, over 150 firefighters were deployed on Tuesday to combat a major fire in the Breignon forest near Saint-Macaire-du-Bois. The fire was brought under control overnight with no reported injuries.

Impact on Cultural Sites and Public Safety

Parisian landmarks have been affected by the extreme heat. The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, announced it would close earlier than usual this week. The institution cited the fragility of its historic building and its insufficient adaptation to climate change, noting that heat accumulation peaks late in the day and is intensified by visitor numbers.

The Eiffel Tower also closed earlier than usual on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Among the heatwave-related fatalities in France was a 13-year-old girl who drowned after swimming in the River Seine at Fontaine-La Port on Sunday evening; she did not know how to swim.

Several drownings have also been reported in Germany, including a 26-year-old man who died after entering the Danube River near Regensburg in Bavaria on Tuesday evening. Emergency services conducted hours-long searches using helicopters and boats. Attempts to resuscitate the man, who could not swim, were unsuccessful.

Temperatures in Germany are expected to reach 37°C on Wednesday, with warnings issued about the dangers of swimming during the heatwave.

Concerns about drought are rising in regions such as Brandenburg, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia, where authorities have urged water conservation, according to German newspaper Die Welt. Barbecue bans have been implemented in cities including Stuttgart and Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg.

Heatwave Conditions Across Southern Europe

Spain has endured intense heat in recent days, though temperatures are expected to decline starting Wednesday. Nonetheless, red heat alerts remain in place for parts of northern Spain, with maximum temperatures up to 42°C possible in the Basque country, according to forecaster Aemet.

In Italy, 16 provincial capitals are under red heat alerts. Latina was added on Wednesday, with Bari to be added on Thursday, according to the Italian news agency Ansa.

Map of Italy showing city-level heat alerts for the next two days. Most of northern and central Italy - including Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna and Florence - are marked in red, indicating emergency heatwave conditions. Additional red markers extend down much of the peninsula, showing widespread severe heat inland and along both coasts. A few coastal areas, including parts of the north-west and southern mainland, have orange markers for high heat risk. Southern regions and the islands—such as areas around Naples, Sicily and Sardinia including Palermo-mostly show yellow markers, indicating a lower but still likely health risk. The source is the Italian Ministry of Health (24 June 2026).

Alerts in the Netherlands and Belgium

The Dutch weather service KNMI has issued a Code Orange alert, indicating a high chance of dangerous weather in southern and central Netherlands from Wednesday through at least Friday. Maximum temperatures of 37°C are expected, with Friday potentially reaching 39°C.

Belgium has placed most of the country under an orange alert, with highs of 37°C forecast over the next few days. Following a meeting on Tuesday, Belgium’s Risk Management Group activated the "alert phase of the national ozone and heat plan" for only the second time, the first being in August 2020. No specific national measures have been announced beyond raising awareness and advising extra care for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.

Climate Change and Its Role in Europe’s Heatwaves

Climate change is driving increasing temperatures globally, with Europe warming at twice the global average rate, according to the Copernicus climate service. This accelerated warming is causing more frequent and intense summer heatwaves, increased pressure on water supplies, and more severe wildfires.

Last year, Europe experienced a record level of wildfires, with over one million hectares burned, particularly affecting Spain.