Europe faces fourth heatwave as temperatures near 40 degrees

A fourth heatwave of the summer continues to affect Western and Southern Europe, pushing temperatures toward 40 degrees Celsius and breaking regional records.

In Italy, health authorities extended red weather alerts to all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as extreme heat is expected to persist for another week. Officials urged the public to stay indoors during peak hours. Meanwhile, Austria recorded its highest temperature on record at 40.8 degrees Celsius near Vienna.

In France, health officials reported more than 7,300 excess deaths associated with 52 heatwave days logged since May. Increased wildfire risks and severe drought conditions continue across France and the United Kingdom, while climate monitoring shows several regions recorded their warmest July on record.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG