Europe faces scorching weekend as heat wave moves east

Skip next section At least 193 million in Europe to see temperatures above 35 C — reports June 27, 2026

At least 193 million in Europe to see temperatures above 35 C — reports

At least 193 million people across Europe are likely to experience temperatures above 35 C (95 F) on Saturday, according to an analysis by the AFP news agency.

That is up on the some 150 million who were expected to see such temperatures on Friday.

Many of those people are expected to be in Germany, where 75 million are predicted to swelter in 35 C heat, while altogether 82 million — virtually the entire population — are likely to face temperatures above 30 C.

AFP says that more than 9 million people in Hungary — again, almost the entire population — will be seeing temperatures of more than 35 C.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GA4n

Skip next section Munich Pride events to go ahead in searing heat June 27, 2026

Munich Pride events to go ahead in searing heat

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join a Pride Parade in the southern German city of Munich on Saturday despite the high temperatures.

Pride events in the city such as parties and a street festival will continue on Sunday, when extreme heat is also expected.

Temperatures in Munich are forecast to reach 36 C (96.8 F) and 34 C respectively over the two days.

The Paris Pride, which was also to have taken place on Saturday, has, however, been postponed, with police saying they would close it down to relieve the strain on health services.

Another major event in Germany on Sunday, the Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon, will see the cycling and running courses shortened because of the heat, organizers have said. taking place on Sunday in Frankfurt shortened the cycling and

https://p.dw.com/p/5GA3m

Skip next section FACT CHECK: Disinformation on heat waves June 27, 2026

FACT CHECK: Disinformation on heat waves

Social media are currently flooded by posts making completely unfounded claims about the current heat wave, ways of dealing with it and its links to climate change.

DW has put together a fact check debunking several of these kinds of disinformation: Fact check: Throwing cold water on heat wave disinformation

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9wJ

Skip next section Germany set for another scorcher June 27, 2026

Germany set for another scorcher

A record set on Friday for the highest June temperature in Germany could potentially fall just a day later, with the German Weather Service (DWD) saying the mercury could climb to 42 C (107.6 F) in some places on Saturday.

On Friday, 41.3 C was recorded in the western city of Saarbrücken, according to preliminary data.

For Saturday, the DWD has forecast temperatures of between 36 and 41 C, and on Sunday, eastern and southeastern regions could see peak temperatures of 39 to 41 C.

The eastern Lausitz region could even see 42 C on Sunday, according to the forecasters.

The rest of Germany is expected to see — slightly — milder temperatures ranging from 32 to 38 C.

However, thunderstorms with strong winds and, possibly, hail, are also likely over the weekend, the DWD says, particularly in central and northern Germany.

The heat wave is predicted to move eastward toward the start of next week, with temperatures in Western Europe sinking to be more in keeping with normal summer levels.

The hot weather is being caused by a "heat dome" of trapped air from north Africa, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

However, climate scientists say the heat wave has been supercharged by human-induced global warming.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9k0

Skip next section Heat dome expected to move east over weekend June 27, 2026

Heat dome expected to move east over weekend

The ongoing heat wave currently affecting Western Europe will move on to Central Europe and the Balkans toward the end of the month, the World Meteorological Organization has said.

The Czech Republic and Hungary are on red alert for the weekend, with temperatures of up to 40C (104 F) forecast.

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said millions of bags of drinking water were being prepared for distribution if necessary.

A planned Pride March in the capital, Budapest, is, however, to go ahead, with organizers asking those at risk from the extreme heat to support the event from their homes.

In Serbia, huge political rally by the ruling nationalist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is also to take place.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9la

Skip next section Welcome back to our coverage June 27, 2026

Welcome back to our coverage

The DW newsroom in Bonn is picking up its coverage again of the extreme weather affecting Germany and much of Euope as another day of high temperatures is forecast.

Like Britain, France and Switzerland, Germany has seen June temperature records broken during the heat wave — 41.3 C (106.34 F) was recorded on Friday in the western city of Saarbrücken, according to preliminary data.

But some relief is in sight for Western Europe at least, with the zone of extreme temperatures expected to move eastward over the weekend into the start of next week.

DW will bring the latest as Europe experiences what climate scientists say is an inevitable consequence of human-induced global warming.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9jV

Skip next section We're pausing our coverage June 27, 2026

We're pausing our coverage

We are pausing our coverage of the heat wave that's sending temperatures soaring in Europe. We will be back with more on the effects of the scorching temperatures on Saturday morning.

Some of Friday's top headlines included:

Germany records provisional all-time high of 41.3 degrees Celsius (106.34 degrees Fahrenheit)

France records over 50 drownings amid heat wave

European heat wave 'virtually impossible' without man-made climate change

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9DH

Skip next section IN DEPTH: What southern Europeans know about surviving heat June 26, 2026

IN DEPTH: What southern Europeans know about surviving heat

Jennifer Collins

Most northern Europeans are used to cold winters and relatively mild summers, and perhaps an annual beach vacation in countries like Greece, Spain and Italy.

But as humans continue to burn oil, gas and coal, releasing greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change, Europe is becoming the fastest-warming continent.

And deadly heat waves are becoming more intense and frequent — even in once-cool countries like Germany and Ireland.

People living in warmer southern European countries have more experience in managing hotter conditions.

Here's what more northerly countries can learn from them about managing heat waves as they become more common.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G8CL

Skip next section Germany records provisional all-time high of 41.3C June 26, 2026

Germany records provisional all-time high of 41.3C

The German Weather Service (DWD) has recorded a provisional temperature of 41.3 degrees Celsius (106.3 Fahrenheit) in the south-western state of Saarland — the highest ever measured in the country.

Several locations in the country also saw temperatures break 40 degrees Celsius on Friday, according to preliminary weather service data, surpassing the previous record high of 39.6 degrees Celsius for June.

Germany is expected to continue sweltering under record heat over the weekend, with the DWD warning that local temperatures in parts of the country could hit 42 degrees Celcius on both Saturday and Sunday.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G8q1

Skip next section WATCH: Europe hits record temperatures: Is this the new normal? June 26, 2026

WATCH: Europe hits record temperatures: Is this the new normal?

Europe has been roasting for days with record-breaking temperatures across the continent.

To understand what's going on, DW talked to Armel Castellan, the Extreme Heat Services Technical Advisor at the World Meterological Organization and Theodore Keeping, the lead author of a new so-called "rapid study" by the World Weather Attribution that says the heatwaves Europe is now experiencing are driven by climate change and would not have been possible 50 years ago.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G8YG

Skip next section IN DEPTH: As Europe bakes, does sunscreen help? June 26, 2026

IN DEPTH: As Europe bakes, does sunscreen help?

Millions of people across Europe are dealing with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

While many recognize the need to use sunscreen to protect themselves from the sun, some, particularly on social media, have been discussing whether it could actually be harmful.

The discussion centers around the question of whether sunscreen could increase the risk of skin cancer rather than reduce it.

And while the debate is not new, it does seem to be resurfacing more frequently, as global temperatures continue to rise and droughts and extreme heat become the new normal.

DW fact-checked claims about whether sunscreen is safe or linked to skin cancer risk.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G8Ce

Skip next section UK: Hottest June day record broken for third day in a row June 26, 2026

UK: Hottest June day record broken for third day in a row

The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June day on record for the third consecutive day on Friday, the Met Office reported.

Temperatures reached a new high of 36.9 degrees Celcius (98.4 Fahrenheit) in Wattisham, Suffolk, in southeast England, narrowly surpassing Thursday's record of 36.7 degrees Celcius.

The weather agency extended its highest-level "extreme heat" warning through 9:00 am (0800 GMT/UTC) Sunday morning for southwest and southeast England, including London — the fourth consecutive day such an alert has been in place.

The Met Office warned of "population-wide adverse health effects" as medical professionals, teachers, and climate scientists said that the country is not prepared for increasingly intense and frequent heat waves due to climate change.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G8Wa

Skip next section Balkans brace as heatwave moves from Western Europe June 26, 2026

Balkans brace as heatwave moves from Western Europe

Saim Dušan Inayatullah

A heatwave is forecast to move from Western Europe to the Balkans from Friday.

Across the region, heat alerts have been issued for the days ahead.

High temperatures of up to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) are expected in some parts of Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The past three summers have been Serbia's hottest since record-keeping began in 1951.

Despite the hot weather, an outdoor rally organized by the ruling nationalist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is planned in Belgrade on Saturday.

Much of the Adriatic coast across the Balkans is under red weather warnings, with temperatures expected to climb above 35 degrees Celcius.

The sea is also affected. Water temperatures in Pula, Croatia, topped 27 degrees Celsius on Friday morning.

In Croatia, very high temperatures are forecast to spread inland on Sunday.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G8Bz

Skip next section More events canceled as heat wave worsens June 26, 2026

More events canceled as heat wave worsens

It's not just Paris Pride that has been canceled or cut short because of the heat, but a string of other events, too.

Organizers of the Defqon.1 festival in the Netherlands ended the event early, asking around 50,000 campers to leave overnight as temperatures neared 40 degrees Celsius.

Authorities also halted a planned reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium, citing safety concerns for participants and visitors.

In Paris, police called for the cancellation of a Diamond League athletics meeting and other large gatherings, warning emergency services must focus on protecting vulnerable people.

The disruptions come as a record heat wave grips large parts of Europe, with the Netherlands issuing its first-ever nationwide code red alert.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G7JS

Skip next section German hospitals lagging behind on air conditioning June 26, 2026

German hospitals lagging behind on air conditioning

Air conditioning is still uncommon in patients' rooms at German hospitals, a leading medical association said on Friday.

"Most intensive care units in Germany are now air-conditioned, but that's about as far as it goes. Only a third of hospitals have air-conditioned patient rooms," Susanne Johna, chair of the Marburg Association, told public broadcaster ZDF.

At the same time, there are clear guidelines for installing air conditioners for operating rooms or radiology departments, where equipment cannot withstand the heat.

"We often ask relatives to bring things like ice packs from home, which provide temporary relief," Johna said, calling on politicians, architects and hospital chains to take into account the rise in temperature when designing and planning buildings.

"Even with new buildings, we're seeing that sometimes appearances seem to matter more than common sense," Johna said, stressing the amount of risks the heat poses on patients.

"We simply have to be realistic and acknowledge that people die more frequently during such heatwaves. Statistically, this is clearly the case, and it also applies to the people in hospitals," she said.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G7E2

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