Healthcare systems in several European countries are preparing on Tuesday to handle an influx of patients who have fallen ill in the heat.
On Monday, the average day-and-night temperature in France reached 29.2 degrees, which, according to preliminary data, broke the previous record from 2025. The village of Châteaumeillant in central France registered a maximum of 43.3 degrees on Monday.
The heat wave is not over. The number of red alerts has increased and covers more than half of the country on Tuesday, Le Figaro reports.
Since the beginning of the weekend, about 20 drownings have been reported, the country's sports minister announced.
Temperatures are expected to reach over 40 degrees Celsius in parts of France. In Nantes, 44 degrees Celsius is expected, according to weather channel La Chaîne Météo.
In Italy, 15 cities, including Milan and Rome, are under a red heat warning. Another Italian city is expected to be added to the list on Wednesday, AFP reports.
A red alert is the highest warning level. At this level, authorities advise people to eat lightly, stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, and cool down by rinsing themselves in cold water.
In the UK, some previous temperature records could be surpassed as early as Tuesday, but the highest temperatures are not expected until Wednesday and Thursday.
