Europe Sweats Under Record-Breaking Heatwave as Temperatures Soar

A severe heatwave is gripping Europe, with Germany bracing for temperatures expected to exceed 40C over the weekend. The German Weather Service has issued a high temperature warning across all 16 states, with most categorized as 'extreme heat'. Research by the World Weather Attribution group found that temperatures in several European countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, are significantly above the seasonal average, ranging from 5C to 12C higher than usual. Nearly half of European cities are breaking heat records, with the research group measuring the wet bulb globe temperature to estimate heat stress in real-world outdoor conditions. The UK is set to experience some relief from the heat over the weekend, but other parts of Europe, including Poland and the Balkans, will continue to swelter. The heatwave has already led to a number of heat-related fatalities, including dozens of drownings, and has forced organizers of the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt to shorten the cycling and running courses. France has been particularly hard hit, with temperatures exceeding 40C in some regions. The Pride march in Paris was postponed due to the heatwave, but organizers of the Budapest Pride march say their event will go ahead as planned, despite forecast temperatures of 38C, to send a message to Hungary's new government about continued support for LGBTQ+ rights. As the heatwave shifts eastwards, European cities are struggling to cope with the extreme conditions, with emergency services under pressure to respond to heat-related incidents.