Western Europe is in the grip of a deadly heatwave, with dozens of lives lost, power supplies disrupted, and schools shut. Temperatures have smashed previous records, with Britain logging its highest June temperature at 36.1°C and Paris reaching a June record of 40.9°C.
The heatwave is being driven by an Omega block, a weather pattern that traps extreme heat over regions for extended periods. Climate change is intensifying heatwaves and storms, making prolonged heat episodes increasingly likely.
At least 48 people have died in France from drowning while trying to cool off, and two young children were killed by heat in a car. Hundreds of thousands of birds have died at poultry farms in Brittany and the Pays de la Loire.
The heatwave has disrupted daily life, with schools closed, cultural landmarks shut, and rail networks affected. The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre have announced early closing times, and the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace has been scaled back.
Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, making it a hotspot for heatwaves. The heatwave is expected to persist until the end of the week, with temperatures expected to soar to 36°C in the Netherlands.
