For several days, a heatwave swept across Europe, breaking temperature records in its path. In many places, the heat exceeded 40 °C, which is unusual for the more temperate regions it affected, such as northern France, the Benelux countries, northern and central Germany, and the British Isles. Temperature records were set in the northern French cities of Brest and Nantes, as well as in the Atlantic coastal city of Biarritz. Heat records in Nantes and Biarritz reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) and even higher. A new record was also set in Wales, when the mercury in Flintshire, near Liverpool, reached 37.1 °C (98.8 °F). In the Irish capital, Dublin, 33 °C (91.4 °F) was recorded, which is 2 °C above the previous record (31 °C (87.8 °F)).
Meanwhile, on 19 July, the heat record for the United Kingdom was broken, as a temperature of 40 °C was recorded in southern England. Until now, the highest temperature recorded in the United Kingdom was 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in Cambridge in 2019. As of 14:00 GMT, Heathrow Airport was in the lead, with a recorded temperature of 40.2 °C (104.4 °F). The Cambridge record was also surpassed when a temperature of 39.1 °C (102.4 °F) was recorded.
As the heat moved eastward, forecasts for the Benelux countries and western Germany were revised and lowered to 30 degrees. When the high temperatures reach eastern Germany on Wednesday, Berlin's heat record could be broken at the Dahlem station, which is an urban station. The previous temperature record at this location is 37.9 °C, but Wednesday's
heat across the city is expected to reach up to 39 °C (102.2 °F).
Meanwhile, intense heat also prevails in southern Europe, which has caused wildfires. Although records have remained intact this July, another city-wide record was broken back in June, when Rome reached 40.3 °C (105.4 °F).
Although temperature fluctuations and very hot or very cold days are a normal occurrence, it is expected that due to climate change—namely, the rise in average global land and ocean temperatures—extreme weather events will become more frequent. According to Friederike Otto, acting director of the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford (Friederike Otto), the probability of heatwaves in southern Europe is already 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial period.
