Paris (France) (AFP) – Much of Western Europe was sweltering in a gruelling heatwave on Friday with the mercury expected to continue rising in the coming days, likely shattering yet more temperature records.
Issued on: 19/06/2026 - 18:20Modified: 19/06/2026 - 19:49
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France was hit hard, forcing hundreds of schools to tweak their timetables to cope. Forecasters warned of an "intense and long-lasting" heatwave that could see temperatures in Paris soar above 40C for the first time on a June day.Across the continent, authorities were ramping up warnings of extreme weather. German forecasters said parts of the country needed to be on alert for thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain over the weekend.Meteorologists confirmed that England and Wales had already experienced the hottest spring ever recorded, though temperatures in Britain were not expected to be as intense as continental Europe.
Heatwave in western Europe © Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA, Valentina BRESCHI / AFP
