Alcohol consumption has been banned in areas under “red alert” for heatwaves in France, outdoor sports gatherings have been cancelled in Spain, Britain is warning citizens of “tropical nights”: Europe is bracing for a heatwave that could break all June records. This is the second heatwave to hit Western Europe in less than a month. Scientists agree that human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events, especially heatwaves, more intense.

France: 35 apartments on maximum alert

In France, thermometers are currently showing temperatures around 40°C and 35 departments have been put on maximum alert. President Emmanuel Macron called on citizens to “look out for each other” and especially the elderly, children and vulnerable people.

Due to the extreme heat, many cities canceled concerts that were to be given today in squares, streets and bars, as part of the popular Music Festival. In Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg, the events took place as usual, however, the concert that was to be given under the Louvre pyramid was canceled.

To limit the risk to citizens, alcohol consumption has been banned in areas declared on “red alert” and in some of the departments placed on “orange alert” by the meteorological service. The situation is expected to worsen tomorrow Monday and hundreds of schools will remain closed, to protect students and teachers, as reported by the Minister of Ecological Transition Mathieu Lefebvre.

In Spain, there will be no “fan zone” in Madrid

The broadcast of the match between Spain and Saudi Arabia on a giant screen in central Madrid was canceled due to the heatwave.

The municipality and the football federation made this decision after the emergency weather bulletin issued by AEMET for the Madrid region, where temperatures will hover around 40 degrees Celsius. Thirteen regions of the country are on “orange alert” and the Basque Country is on “red”, the highest level.

“Unbearable” heat in Portugal

Portugal’s meteorological service has put three districts on “orange alert” as forecasts call for temperatures of 42°C. The hottest days will be today and Tuesday.

“The situation is really worse than before. But we are enduring. We have no choice but to adapt to the heat. It is really difficult to endure such heat,” said a 75-year-old woman, Edith Salvatera, from Mora.

This village in southern Portugal has recorded temperatures of over 45°C in summer in recent years.

Heatwave also in Switzerland

The country is facing a “strong heat wave” of undetermined duration for now. According to the meteorological service MétéoSuisse, the thermometer is expected to show 34-37 degrees Celsius. The Basel region in particular has been put on a “red alert” (at the 4th of 5 levels of the local scale) for several days now.

Meteorologists predict extreme heat in Britain

The British Met Office has issued an “orange alert” for Wednesday and Thursday, warning that “extreme heat is expected in some areas of central and southern England, as well as Wales.”

At the end of May, in the previous heatwave, the United Kingdom broke the record for the “hottest day” for the month of May, as the temperature reached 35 degrees in London.

Heatwave also in the Balkans

Certain areas of Croatia and Serbia have been placed on an orange alert for the high temperatures expected in the coming days, where the mercury could reach 35 degrees Celsius.

In Croatia, the civil protection agency issued instructions for protecting citizens during the heat wave.

A high temperature, at 35 degrees, was already recorded today in North Macedonia and the forecast for tomorrow is that it will even reach 38 degrees, as in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

French railway chief advises vulnerable citizens to avoid travel due to heatwave

The head of SNCF, France’s state-owned railway company, today urged vulnerable groups to avoid traveling by train during the heatwave, which is expected to peak early this week.

“We recommend that the most vulnerable people postpone their trip or at least avoid taking the train during this heat wave,” Jean Castex told reporters.

Castex, a former French prime minister, explained that it is not possible to rule out the possibility of problems occurring on the railway network due to high temperatures which could deform the rails and cause damage to overhead electrical cables.

The Meteo France weather service, in its latest bulletin, said that 49 departments in the country will be put on “red alert” for heatwaves from Monday afternoon onwards, 14 more than today. The heatwave is expected to intensify and temperatures will reach up to 42 degrees Celsius in some places.

“It is likely that the heat wave will continue, or even worsen in some areas, for much of next week,” according to meteorologists.