Record heat grips southern Europe

Southern Europe is facing a wave of extreme weather, with record-setting temperatures across land and sea, according to national meteorological agencies and the European Copernicus program.

On Sunday, the Mediterranean Sea recorded its highest average sea surface temperature ever for June, reaching 26.01 degrees Celsius, French media reported, citing data from the European Copernicus program.

In France, Meteo-France has placed 84 departments on orange alert for a heatwave, with temperatures already exceeding 35 degrees Celsius across three-quarters of the country and locally approaching 40 degrees, the agency said on its official website on Monday.

July 1 is expected to mark the peak of this heatwave, which began on June 19, with maximum temperatures forecast to range between 36 degrees and 40 degrees, and isolated peaks reaching 41 degrees. On that day, 16 departments in France will be placed on red alert.

Starting July 2, a significant drop in temperatures is expected in regions bordering the English Channel and the Atlantic coast. The cooling trend will then gradually move from west to east across the country by the end of the week, except for the Mediterranean coast, where high temperatures could persist for a longer period.

Several preventive measures are already in place. Nuclear reactors have been shut down, schools have been closed, and construction sites have adjusted their working hours, according to local media reports.

Spain also recorded its highest-ever temperature for June over the weekend. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) reported that the town of El Granado, in the southwestern province of Huelva, reached 46 degrees Celsius on Saturday. This surpasses the previous June record of 45.2 degrees, set in Seville in 1965.

Other parts of southern Spain also experienced extreme temperatures, with 44 degrees recorded in Cordoba and 43.9 degrees near Seville. More than 100 AEMET monitoring stations registered temperatures exceeding 40 degrees during the first major heatwave of the year.

In northeastern Spain, Barcelona saw a new June record of 37.3 degrees. Authorities believe the heat was a contributing factor in the death of a municipal street cleaner, who reportedly collapsed from heatstroke after completing her shift. Two other heat-related fatalities were reported: a construction worker in Tarragona and an agricultural worker in the neighboring region of Aragon.

The heatwave is expected to persist throughout the week, with temperatures above 40 degrees forecast along the eastern coast, the southwest, and the popular tourist region of the Balearic Islands.

Meanwhile, Portugal and Slovenia are also confronting a historic climate extreme.

According to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the inland town of Mora, in the Evora district, registered a sweltering 46.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday - surpassing the previous June record of 44.9 degrees set in Alcacer do Sal, Setubal, on June 17, 2017.

Although a slight temperature drop is expected in parts of the country beginning June 30, IPMA says the relief will be limited, and high temperatures will persist across much of Portugal, particularly inland.

IPMA has issued red alerts for seven districts - Lisbon, Setubal, Santarem, Evora, Beja, Castelo Branco, and Portalegre - effective from Sunday through Tuesday. Furthermore, 80 municipalities remain at the highest level of wildfire risk due to the extreme heat and dry conditions.

The Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) announced Monday that June 2025 has officially been the country's hottest, driest, and sunniest June since records began in 1950.

Temperatures in June were 3.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, with 40 percent more sunshine and only one-quarter of typical rainfall, according to ARSO. Regional disparities were significant, with some western areas receiving nearly half their usual June precipitation, while Central Slovenia and Notranjska recorded less than 10 millimeters - making it their driest June on record.

Scientists across the region have warned that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. They are calling on policymakers to urgently accelerate adaptation and resilience measures in the face of a warming climate.