France Issues Red Heat Alerts for 35 Departments, Bans Alcohol at Public Events

France issued red heat-wave alerts for 35 of its 96 departments on June 21 as temperatures of 39 to 40 °C were forecast across the southwest, the Paris region, and Burgundy, with some areas possibly reaching 41 °C. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered an alcohol ban at the annual Fête de la Musique festivals and other public events in the affected departments after a crisis meeting.

Paris authorities directed that parks remain open around the clock.

A portion of the Canal Saint-Martin was opened for swimming beginning June 17. Heat alerts were declared across most of Germany, where temperatures approached 38 °C. The DWD weather service warned that heat combined with humidity could trigger severe thunderstorms.

Spain's football federation closed its fan zone in Madrid's Plaza de Colón square ahead of the national team's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia. The match will be played in an air-conditioned stadium in Atlanta that uses solar power. Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin stated that short-term impacts on growth remain somewhat ambiguous due to lower productivity and higher energy demand, but warned that heat waves reduce economic activity over the medium term.