Europe heatwave live: UK issues rare red temperature warnings; French PM to hold crisis meeting after heat deaths

Dangerous heat spreads across western Europe

A severe late-June heatwave is intensifying across western Europe, prompting rare red temperature warnings in the UK and red heat alerts across much of mainland France as officials warn of dangerous conditions, school disruption and pressure on public services.

The UK Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat covering parts of southern England and Wales from Wednesday to Thursday, with temperatures forecast to reach about 38C to 40C. The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a red heat-health alert for six English regions: the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London and the East of England.

The red warning is only the second of its kind, after July 2022, underscoring how unusual the current conditions are for the UK. Officials say the alert level reflects a serious public-health risk, especially for older people, young children and people with underlying health conditions.

The broader concern is not just daytime heat, but also warm nights that limit recovery between hot periods. That makes it harder for bodies, buildings and infrastructure to cool down between peaks.

France faces the sharpest disruption

France is seeing the most widespread impact so far. More than half of mainland departments are under red heat alerts, and local authorities have closed or shortened hours at thousands of schools.

The strongest reporting says more than 1,350 schools have been closed or adjusted to reduce risk to pupils and staff. The measures reflect concern that classrooms, playgrounds and school travel are unsafe during the hottest parts of the day.

France’s weather service has warned of temperatures ranging from about 38C to 43C in some areas. Le Monde reported that the country could experience four of its hottest days ever recorded from June 23 to June 26.

French reporting says the heatwave began on June 17, and the scale of the current event has turned what began as a hot spell into a national emergency with broad public-health implications.

Heat-related deaths and emergency response

The health toll is already serious. AP and Guardian reporting say the heat has caused deaths in France, including two young children found dead in a car. The reports do not give a final heat-related death toll, but they show the danger as temperatures remain elevated.

Guardian live coverage says the French prime minister is convening a crisis meeting in response to the deaths and the wider impacts of the heatwave. The meeting is expected to focus on immediate mitigation and coordination across agencies.

The development adds a political and administrative layer to a fast-moving weather emergency, with ministers and local authorities under pressure to manage public guidance, school disruption and health risks at the same time.

Schools, transport and infrastructure under strain

The immediate consequences are being felt well beyond weather maps. School closures and shortened hours are forcing families to adjust, while authorities try to keep children and staff out of the worst conditions.

Officials are also watching for knock-on effects on transport and other heat-sensitive infrastructure. The current warnings are designed to limit exposure before wider breakdowns emerge, rather than after problems become visible.

The UK and France are both dealing with the same basic challenge: a prolonged spell of intense heat during late June, when many buildings, roads and public services are not built for repeated days above 38C.

Why this heatwave is different

Forecasters and public-health officials have repeatedly pointed to the timing and duration of the event. Late June heat can still be dangerous, but this episode is notable for its scale, the high overnight temperatures and the speed at which alerts have escalated.

AP reported that Météo-France has compared the event with the 2003 heatwave, a benchmark for extreme summer heat in France. That comparison reflects how seriously meteorologists are treating the present conditions.

Le Monde’s reporting that France may be facing four of its hottest days ever recorded adds to the sense that this is not just a short-lived spike, but a multi-day stress test for health services, schools and local infrastructure.

What to watch next

The key questions now are whether temperatures in the UK reach the upper end of the forecast and whether any transport or infrastructure failures are reported.

In France, attention is on the outcome of the crisis meeting, any new restrictions or guidance, and whether school closures or red-alert geography expand or begin to ease as forecasts are updated.

Officials are also watching for updated death tolls, changes in alert zones and any signs that other European countries may need to issue additional red warnings or emergency measures as the heatwave spreads.