Europe faces prolonged heatwave as red alerts and mortality rates rise

Extreme summer heat continues across Western Europe, pushing temperatures past historical milestones and raising severe public health concerns.

Italian authorities issued top-level heat warnings covering 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as the country endures its fourth intense thermal spell of the season. Forecasters anticipate temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius to persist over the coming week.

Meanwhile, Austrian weather services recorded a national temperature high of 40.8 degrees Celsius in a Vienna suburb. In France, officials linked more than 7,300 excess fatalities to persistent extreme weather between May and July, following 52 days of elevated thermal conditions. Meteorologists warn that incoming heat across France and the United Kingdom will further exacerbate drought conditions and heighten wildfire threats.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)