A severe heatwave continued to sweep across Europe on Wednesday, shattering temperature records, straining power infrastructure and disrupting daily life as millions of people endured extreme temperatures.
France experienced its hottest national temperature reading since records began in 1947, while a major power outage left around 68,000 households without electricity in the northwestern Finistère department.
France Records Historic Temperatures
France’s national temperature indicator—an average of day and night temperatures recorded across 30 weather stations—reached 29.8°C on Tuesday, setting a new record.
Authorities expanded the highest-level heat alert to additional regions, with approximately 44 million people now affected. More than 90% of France’s population is under extreme heat warnings, with temperatures forecast to reach 39°C to 41°C across large parts of the country.
Power Outage Leaves Thousands Without Electricity
The extreme heat triggered France’s first major power outage of the current heatwave after a transformer malfunctioned due to high temperatures.
Officials said:
- Around 68,000 households in Finistère were without electricity on Wednesday.
- At one stage, more than 106,000 customers across France experienced power disruptions.
- Repair crews worked overnight, but full restoration was not expected until at least the end of Wednesday.
Experts say prolonged high temperatures are placing unprecedented pressure on electrical infrastructure that was not designed for increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.
Air Conditioner Demand Surges
With many European homes lacking air conditioning, demand for cooling equipment has soared.
- French retailer Carrefour sold approximately 30,000 fans and air conditioners in a single day.
- Amazon France reported nearly double the sales compared with the same period last year.
- Electronics retailer Fnac Darty also recorded strong double-digit sales growth.
Electricians across France reported being overwhelmed with urgent requests for air-conditioning installations.
Heatwave Expands Across Europe
The extreme temperatures are affecting several European countries.
- Italy issued red heat alerts for 16 cities, including Rome and Milan.
- Poland warned temperatures could challenge its all-time national record later this week.
- Croatia placed parts of its Adriatic coast under the highest heat warning.
- Hungary raised its nationwide heat alert to the maximum level.
- The Netherlands issued an orange warning for extreme heat, while public facilities introduced measures to help residents stay cool.
Public Services Adjust Operations
The heatwave has forced changes to public services and tourist attractions.
In Paris, major attractions including the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower reduced opening hours because of the extreme temperatures.
In Belgium, Brussels’ iconic Atomium also shortened visiting hours, while schools and transport services across several countries introduced temporary heat-related measures.
Climate Experts Warn of Increasing Extremes
Scientists say the current heatwave has been intensified by human-induced climate change, estimating that temperatures are 2°C to 4°C higher than they would have been without global warming.
Although Spain is expected to see some relief from falling temperatures, much of western and central Europe is forecast to remain under dangerous heat conditions through the end of the week.
