Heat dome over Europe – countries break heat records

Agnès Ericson

Published 2026-06-22 19.54

Extreme heat is spreading in Europe.

Several countries, including Luxembourg, have broken heat records.

– It could last for at least a week or ten days, says meteorologist Lasse Rydqvist.

A new heat dome is over Europe.

This is behind high temperatures on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Alps and further up towards southern England. It is also hot in Poland.

Several local heat records have been broken in Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland.

– In Luxembourg, a national heat record was broken the other day, says Lasse Rydqvist, meteorologist at Klart.

It was 37 degrees there.

           

           

          Tourists cool off in a water mist at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sunday, June 21, 2026.1 / 2Photo:                    Michel Euler /AP/TT

It could be 44 degrees in France

But it is expected to be really sweaty especially in France where the temperature has already reached 42 degrees.

– And it will probably be hotter there, especially in western France. There are red warnings in a large area with the most serious heat warnings.

A red warning is in place in almost half of all departments. And according to Rydqvist, the temperature could rise to 44 degrees in the country during the week.

– It deviates quite a bit from normal. And if you focus on Paris, it is an interesting week for them. It could be the hottest week ever measured, says Rydqvist.

         

         An Icelandic horse is sprayed with water at a horse farm in Wehrheim near Frankfurt in Germany.               Photo: Michael Probst /AP/TT

It is not impossible that the temperature will climb to 40 degrees in the French capital.

– It is a bit difficult to say because it could last for at least a week or ten days. Further ahead, the forecasts are becoming increasingly uncertain. However, some areas will be affected for a shorter period of time, such as southern England or Sweden, for example. There you may only have really hot weather for a few days before it subsides.
Visitors wait in the heat for the arrival of guests at the Prada men's spring/summer 2027 show in Milan, Italy.

        

        Visitors wait in the heat for the arrival of guests at the Prada men's spring/summer 2027 show in                  Milan, Italy. Photo: Luca Bruno /AP/TT

 

What should you consider to cope with the heat? 

– A good tip is to plan for the hottest hours of the day. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible and drink plenty of water. Even if you are not thirsty, it is good to do so. Also try to find coolness in any way possible. If you have access to a pool or can swim in the sea, that is also optimal.

He also warns against taking public transport.

– If there is poor ventilation in public transport, you can suffer from heatstroke. It is therefore worth considering that you can be standing on public transport. You do not want that when it is this hot.

           

           

          Visitors protect themselves from the sun with umbrellas as they walk in the garden at the Palace of              Versailles outside Paris during a heat wave, where temperatures rise above 40 degrees, on Monday.

          1 / 2Photo: Thibault Camus /AP/TT