Europe braces for another summer heatwave
Europe is facing another severe heatwave following record-breaking droughts and forest fires across the continent. Meteorological agencies warn that climate change is making these extreme weather events more frequent and intense.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency of heatwaves threatens infrastructure, public health, and water security across Europe, highlighting the urgent impact of global climate change.
Much of Europe is bracing for yet another scorching heatwave following periods of record drought that have driven rivers to historic lows, ignited historic forest fires and contributed to thousands of deaths.
Swathes of Britain and France on Monday (August 10, 2026) were already under extreme heat warnings with forecasts of temperatures around the mid-30s C, while parched conditions saw new fires erupt in Greece and Spain.
Unusually high temperatures were also forecast in the coming days across a number of countries not accustomed to the heat, such as Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
The heatwave comes after mainland France and Switzerland saw their widest-ranging droughts for July on record, according to an AFP of data released by Europe's Copernicus climate observatory on Monday (August 10).
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