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Europe Records Record Heat as Wildfire Risk Rises in Western U.S.
Temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded across parts of Europe while dry conditions and heat have raised wildfire danger in several western states. Officials in multiple countries have closed schools and restricted outdoor work.
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Europe is experiencing record high temperatures that have already caused infrastructure damage and prompted emergency measures in several countries. Temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Germany, while Denmark recorded its hottest day since 1874 at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and Basel, Switzerland, reached 101.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sections of highway near Berlin buckled under the heat, leading to closures. Health authorities have reported fatalities linked to the heat. Spain's health ministry estimated 212 deaths, France confirmed 58 deaths including drownings, and the United Kingdom reported 15 water-related accidental deaths.
Western U.S.
The National Weather Service issued warnings for extremely critical fire weather in portions of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, with additional critical and elevated risks in California, Nevada, and Wyoming. Federal forecasters stated that low soil moisture and unrelenting heat have left vegetation flammable, and gusty winds with low humidity could cause rapid fire spread.
The conditions are expected to persist into Sunday.
Governments across Europe have ordered school closures, canceled outdoor events, and deployed misting stations in cities including Paris. Officials have also restricted strenuous outdoor work and introduced localized alcohol bans. Public health agencies advise staying hydrated, seeking air conditioning or cooling centers, limiting outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and monitoring older adults and children for heat-related illness.
