Europe live: western Europe heatwave prompts public safety warnings and school closures

France at the center of the heatwave

Western Europe is in the grip of a severe late-June heatwave, with France facing the most immediate public-safety response and the UK preparing for a rare red extreme-heat warning later this week.

Météo-France said on June 22 that a long-lasting heatwave was underway in France. The agency placed 49 departments under red heatwave vigilance and 40 more under orange vigilance.

Officials warned that temperatures could locally exceed 42C in parts of central and western France. The scale of the alerts makes this one of the most serious summer heat events so far this year in the region.

AP reported that daytime temperatures in France have already climbed above 40C in some areas, while nights in parts of the country have stayed unusually warm. That combination limits overnight recovery and can make heat exposure more dangerous.

The agency also said the heat has worsened ozone pollution, adding another layer of strain for people already dealing with extreme temperatures.

Schools, trains and daily routines

The disruption is already affecting everyday life. The Guardian reported that more than 800 schools were shut in France, while AP said hundreds of schools were closed or operating on changed schedules as the heat intensified.

Rail services have also been affected, according to The Guardian, as operators and authorities try to reduce risk during the hottest part of the day.

Those changes show how quickly extreme heat can ripple through public services. School closures, travel delays and altered schedules all signal a broader attempt to limit exposure and protect vulnerable people.

Authorities are focusing on the risks to older residents, children, commuters and people who have to work outdoors. The immediate concern is not only comfort but heat-related illness, dehydration and emergency calls.

UK warning moves to red

The same weather system is now moving toward the UK. The Met Office has issued amber warnings for June 22-23 and red extreme-heat warnings for June 24-25.

The agency says the red warning covers an exceptional spell of hot and humid weather, with impacts to the general population highly likely.

Its guidance says serious illness or danger to life is possible, and that routines may need to change substantially. The Met Office also warned of possible disruption to power, water, rail and mobile services.

Temperatures in the highlighted UK area could peak around 38C to 40C, according to the warning page.

That means the UK faces a slightly later peak than France, where the hottest conditions are already being felt. The warning suggests the same broad heat system is still intensifying as it spreads eastward.

What officials are watching next

The research packet points to several developments that could still change as the week progresses. France may add more departments to red vigilance or reduce the number if conditions shift.

Officials are also watching whether more schools, rail lines or public events are closed or rescheduled, especially if temperatures remain high through the coming days.

Another open question is whether casualty or hospitalization figures emerge as the heatwave continues. Western Europe has already seen public-safety warnings centered on health, transport and education, but the full human impact is still being assessed.

There is also a possibility that other western European countries issue comparable high-level alerts in the next 24 hours if the same heat pattern intensifies elsewhere.

For now, the story is defined by a clear public response: broad French heat alerts, widespread school and transport disruption, and a UK red warning that underlines how severe the heatwave has become across western Europe.