Europe is bracing for a summer of sweltering heat, with Spain, Portugal, and France set for temperatures of up to 45°C as Brits prepare to begin the holiday season. According to forecasts from The Weather Channel, the heatwave may arrive as quickly as next week, with peak temperatures still undetermined.
May Heat Dome Sets the Stage
It comes after last month saw a scorching-hot 'heat dome' settling over Western Europe, producing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Celsius above the average for May. Southern Spain is expecting temperatures of up to 40°C starting this weekend, but the thermometer could climb even higher in the days that follow.
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) forecasts that Spain is entering a three-month period of above-average temperatures across the entire country, including the Balearic Islands, the Mediterranean and Cantabrian coasts, the central and southwestern regions, and the Canary Islands.
Portugal and France Also Affected
Portugal can also expect a season of 'unbearable heat', with highs of up to 45°C. Usually, the months of June to September range between 25°C and 30°C, but forecasters insist this summer will be significantly warmer. Similar temperatures are expected in southern France, as tourists get ready to pack their suitcases for a getaway to the sandy beaches of Provence or the scenic Côte d'Azur.
Germany and Switzerland See Moderate Heat
The Weather Channel predicts maximum temperatures of 35°C for Germany this summer, but a precise forecast is not yet possible, as the days are still too far away. Next week, temperatures will climb to as high as 30°C in the south, while further north, highs will reach 27°C, accompanied by rain showers. Towards the weekend, it'll get warmer. Individual days with temperatures around 30°C are even possible for Switzerland in the coming weeks.
Turkey Faces Record-Breaking Heat
Brits planning on visiting Turkey should definitely pack extra sunscreen, as experts are forecasting record-breaking heat. 'There's a high probability that temperature records will be broken again this summer,' meteorologist Dr. Güven Özdemir told Turkish daily newspaper Cumhuriyet. 'Temperatures in Southeastern Anatolia and the Mediterranean region could exceed 40°C. This won't always be the case; there might be a few days of cooling, followed by intense heat, exacerbated by hot air masses from Africa or Arabia,' he said.
Heat-Related Deaths in Spain
Spain recorded 101 heat-related deaths in May, the highest number for the month since such records started being kept in 2015. 'This figure is 3.6 times higher than the average number of heat-related deaths recorded in May over the past decade,' the health ministry said in a statement, stressing 'the significant health impact of heat episodes, even before the start of summer'. Overall, from 2015, when data collection began, up to the summer of 2025, the deaths of 27,564 people were 'attributable to high temperatures' in the country, the ministry said.
Climate Change and El Nino
Several countries in Europe recorded their hottest-ever May days this year as a heatwave smashed records across the continent. Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying extremes, with weather events like heatwaves, droughts, and floods becoming more intense and frequent. The United Nations weather agency forecast on Tuesday a moderate or possibly a strong El Nino that could drive up global temperatures and increase the risk of extreme weather over the coming months. El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically lasts between nine and 12 months, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The WMO said warm ocean waters were driving El Nino's development and predicted above-average temperatures in most parts of the world from June to August. It also said it is likely El Nino will continue until November. It also said it remained uncertain how strong El Nino will be as models differ on its severity, but officials warned of the need to be ready. 'We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Nino event - which will exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean,' said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. The last El Nino, which meteorologists said was strong, in 2023 to 2024 contributed to making 2024 the hottest year on record.
