France breaks all-time temperature record
France recorded its hottest day since records began in 1947 on Wednesday, according to the country's national weather agency Meteo-France. The previous record, set just a day earlier, was shattered as the 'omega' heatwave pattern locked scorching air over western Europe. Temperatures soared past 42°C in parts of southern France, triggering red alert warnings across roughly half the country.
Dozens dead as country seeks relief
Officials reported at least 48 drowning deaths as people sought relief from the crippling heat in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Two young children died after being left in a vehicle in direct sunlight. Power outages affected thousands of households as air conditioning usage pushed the electrical grid to its limits, sparking a political debate about France's historical resistance to widespread AC adoption.
Heatwave expected to spread north
Meteorologists warn the heat dome will shift northward, with the UK expected to break its June temperature record. Authorities issued rare extreme heat warnings across multiple countries. The World Meteorological Organization linked the intensity of the event to climate change, noting that human-induced warming makes such extreme heat events more frequent and severe than they would be under natural conditions alone.