Europe heatwave records are tumbling across the continent as a brutal wave of heat tightens its grip, with Germany bracing for temperatures well above 40C and England under extreme heat warnings. New research reveals just how widespread the phenomenon has become, with nearly half of Europe’s cities breaking or expected to break heat records.

Records Falling Across the Continent

Analysis by scientists from the World Weather Attribution group found that temperatures in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain were running between 5C and 12C above the seasonal average. The scope of the heat is remarkable.

In their study, the researchers examined 854 European cities and found that in 45% of them, heat records had either already been broken or were forecast to fall. To measure the true toll on people, the team used the wet bulb globe temperature, a metric that combines several factors to estimate real-world heat stress:

• Air temperature
• Humidity
• Wind speed
• Solar radiation

Together, these variables offer a more accurate picture of how much heat stress people are likely to face in outdoor conditions than air temperature alone.

A Divided Continent

While much of Germany prepares for temperatures climbing above 40C, the picture looks strikingly different further east. Countries that often sit on the front line of climate change are instead enjoying unusually mild conditions for this time of year.

Greece offers a clear example. Unlike vast stretches of western Europe, the country is neither sweltering nor issuing emergency weather warnings. The mild conditions were reflected in the readings from the Greek capital, where the temperature reached 31C at noon, according to the official weather portal of Athens’ national observatory. Forecasts pointed to similarly moderate readings of around 30C at noon the following day.

Relief and New Risks in Greece

The arrival of northerly winds, a common feature of the Greek summer, has brought further relief from the heat. Yet that same weather pattern has carried its own dangers.

Authorities found themselves scrambling to contain wildfires that broke out earlier in the day in Thiva, located about 85 kilometers, or 52 miles, north of Athens. The contrast highlights how the same season can deliver dangerous extremes in different forms across Europe, from oppressive heat in the west to sudden fire risks elsewhere.

As the heatwave continues to unfold, the record-breaking temperatures across western Europe underscore the growing intensity of these events, even as parts of the continent experience a temporary reprieve.