Lead

A record-breaking heatwave that has been sweeping across Europe moved eastward over the weekend, bringing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) to several countries and setting new national records. Germany provisionally recorded its highest-ever temperature on Friday, and Czechia and Slovakia have also reported all-time highs as the heatwave continues to intensify.

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The heatwave, which has been linked to dozens of deaths in Western Europe, has prompted extreme heat warnings in several countries. Germany's national weather service issued warnings for nearly all of the country on Saturday, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 42 degrees Celsius in some places. The German Weather Service (DWD) forecast temperatures of between 36 and 41 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with the eastern Lausitz region possibly seeing 42 degrees on Sunday, according to Deutsche Welle.

Several countries posted record June temperatures. The United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and Germany have all experienced record heat in June, as reported by multiple outlets. Denmark registered its highest temperature on record on Saturday, with 36.6 degrees Celsius measured north of Odense, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. Slovakia confirmed that Friday night was its warmest on record, with temperatures not dropping below 26.3 degrees Celsius, as reported by The Guardian.

Key Claims

Germany recorded a new national high of 41.3 degrees Celsius near the city of Saarbrücken, close to the French border, according to a spokesperson for Germany's National Meteorological Service, noting the reading was still preliminary. The heatwave is expected to peak at the weekend, with temperatures reaching well over 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of Germany, said Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at weather forecasting site Donnerwetter.de.

Dozens of deaths in Western Europe have been linked to the heatwave, according to multiple sources. In France, temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius have disrupted rail travel and power generation, sparked alcohol bans, suspended schools, and postponed outdoor events. The Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon, scheduled for Sunday in Frankfurt, shortened its cycling and running courses due to the heat.

The heatwave has also had a significant impact on the power grid in Ukraine, which ordered power cuts to deal with the strain, as reported by Al Jazeera. In Italy, the health ministry issued a red alert for 18 cities, including Milan, Rome, and Venice, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 39 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Perspectives

Scientists attributed the heatwave's intensity to human-made climate change. As reported by The Guardian, scientists said the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-made climate change, which has made this week's night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been even two decades ago. This attribution is echoed by Al Jazeera and Dawn, which linked the heatwave to human-caused climate change.

The World Meteorological Organization has said the heatwave will move on to Central Europe and the Balkans toward the end of the month, as reported by Deutsche Welle. The Czech Republic and Hungary are on red alert for the weekend, with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius forecast. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said millions of bags of drinking water were being prepared for distribution if necessary.