Western Europe is enduring baking temperatures
Women shelter from the sun with parasols on June 21, 2026 in Seville, Spain(Image: Getty Images)
Spain is bracing itself for highs of 44C this week as the country declares its first official heatwave of the year as Western Europe endures scorching conditions this week.
Swathes of amber and yellow temperature warnings are in force across Spain and the Balearic Islands, with highs of 37C forecast for Madrid, 40C for Seville, and 39C for Almeria. On Monday Ibiza is set to reach highs of 37C, central Majorca could reach 39C, and Menorca could see highs of 36C.
Red alerts have been issued by Aemet, Spain’s national weather agency, for parts of the Biscay on Monday, where locally temperatures could reach 43C. On Tuesday red warnings have been added for Liebana in Northern Spain where temperatures could reach 40C, and parts of Andalusia where highs of 44C are forecast.
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On Sunday Aemet issued a heatwave notice which remains in place until Wednesday June 24. The scorching temperatures are the result of a very dry and warm Saharan air mass being pushed northward, combined with ‘high levels of sunshine typical for this time of year’.
Extreme heat warnings issued by Aemet for Spain for June 23, 2026 as Europe endures a heatwave(Image: aemet.es)
River valleys, the eastern Cantabrian coast and the interior of the Balearic Islands will be particularly affected by the heat. Forecasters warned that the hot weather poses several risks, including increased fire hazards, while vulnerable individuals such as the elderly should take particular care.
Forecasters expect temperatures to drop across the entire country on Thursday 24, “potentially significantly in the central and northwestern regions”, although maximum temperatures will still remain high.
Elsewhere in Europe, France and Belgium are also enduring baking conditions. French authorities have placed 49 of the country’s 96 mainland departments on a level 1 danger-to-life warning, with 35 million people urged to exercise ‘absolute vigilance’, The Guardian reports.
A level 2 orange alert has been issued for the other 40 departments. Météo-France, the country’s national meteorological service, said: “Very high temperatures are setting in for the long term across the country. Day and night-time temperatures will be exceptional.”
Temperatures are set to exceed 40C in central France on Monday afternoon, while Bordeaux will hit 43C and Paris will reach highs of 39C. Stéphanie Rist, France’s health minister, while visiting a Paris hospital on Monday said: “Many people are going to suffer, because bodies suffer from an accumulation of high temperatures.” More than 800 schools were closed on Monday due to the heat, while one in 10 regional train services around Paris were cancelled over concerns of rolling stock and tracks.
Belgium and Germany have also been experiencing soaring temperatures. The final of the Berlin Open tennis tournament was suspended over the weekend as temperatures hit above 30C, while forecasters have warned that temperatures in Belgium will be the hottest on record.
Meanwhile here in the UK temperatures are set to soar this week with highs of up to 38C forecast. The Met Office has issued a red alert for extreme heat covering an area of south England which is in place for Wednesday and Thursday this week, while there are also amber alerts in place for the south of England, parts of Wales and the Midlands from today until Thursday night.