Europe faced one of its most severe heatwaves on record during late June 2026, with temperatures shattering national highs across multiple countries and contributing to over 1,300 excess deaths.

The World Health Organization reported more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to high temperatures since June 21. France's public health agency recorded approximately 1,000 additional deaths in the country during the peak period, primarily affecting older individuals.

Germany experienced its hottest day on record for three consecutive days, reaching 41.7 degrees Celsius in eastern Brandenburg. Poland set an all-time national record of 40.5 degrees Celsius, while the Czech Republic recorded 41.1 degrees Celsius and later higher marks. Other nations including Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark, and Switzerland also logged new temperature extremes.

The extreme conditions disrupted transportation, strained power grids, and led to infrastructure damage such as burst highways in Germany. Wildfires broke out in parts of the continent, and health services reported increased emergency visits.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described heat stress as a "silent killer" and noted that many European buildings were not designed for such temperatures. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group stated the event would have been virtually impossible without climate change influences.

By early July, cooler weather arrived in western Europe, though the heat shifted eastward before subsiding. The episode highlighted ongoing challenges with extreme weather preparedness across the region.