Europe is preparing for another heatwave as soaring temperatures, drought and wildfires continue to put pressure on communities across the continent.
Britain and France were already facing extreme heat warnings on Monday, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s Celsius. Several other countries are also preparing for unusually hot weather.
Switzerland, Austria and Hungary are among the countries expected to experience high temperatures in the coming days. Weather warnings have also been issued across Italy and parts of Croatia as intense heat spreads.
The United Kingdom’s Met Office said another period of extremely hot weather was moving north. Half of England and all of Wales are already officially experiencing drought, with millions of people facing hosepipe restrictions.
France is also preparing for severe temperatures, with the southeast expected to reach 35°C. Meteo-France warned that intense heat could affect almost the entire country between Wednesday and Friday.
Unprecedented heat has affected much of Europe this summer and this week will be no exception🌡️
Yet another spell of extremely hot weather is set to spread north across much of the UK with temperatures reaching the mid 30s Celsius in places📈🌍 pic.twitter.com/pOdPGhT8yL
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 9, 2026
The Europe heatwave is also worsening drought and wildfire risks. Greece reported a new fire near Athens, while major fires in France and Spain have already destroyed thousands of hectares of land this summer.
Low water levels are creating additional problems for Europe’s rivers. The Rhine could become difficult for ships to navigate, while Poland’s Vistula River has reached a record low. Low Danube levels have also affected nuclear power operations in Hungary and Romania.
Climate data shows the scale of the crisis, with nearly 120 million Europeans living in areas where July was the hottest on record. At least 12,000 excess deaths were recorded during a June heatwave, highlighting the growing risks posed by extreme temperatures.
