By Charlotte Jennings
Map Source: Associated Press
This week, major heat waves across Europe have pushed temperatures above 104°F (40°C) in countries including Spain, Türkiye, and Italy. As Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent, these heat waves are Europe’s second record-breaking extreme weather event of 2025, following its hottest ever March. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, like heat waves, is due to the climate crisis. In January, a major study warned that deaths from heat will rise significantly if mass climate adaptation is not prioritized. Statisticians at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimate that this heatwave could cause more than 4,500 excess deaths between June 30 and July 3. More than 175,000 people die from heat-related deaths in the World Health Organization’s Europe region every year.
This heat tracker map shows areas that are experiencing higher than normal temperatures this week, major heat waves across Europe have pushed temperatures above 104°F (30°C) in countries including Spain, Türkiye, and Italy. As Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent, these heat waves are Europe’s second record-breaking extreme weather event of 2025, following its hottest ever March. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, like heat waves, is due to the climate crisis. In January, a major study warned that deaths from heat will rise significantly if mass climate adaptation is not prioritized. Statisticians at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimate that this heatwave could cause more than 4,500 excess deaths between June 30 and July 3. More than 175,000 people die from heat-related deaths in the World Health Organization’s Europe region every year. ratures, as compared to the average temperatures from 1991 to 2020. The average high temperatures of the latest week are compared to the average of at least 20 years of data. Countries like Spain do not display higher than average temperatures, despite record-breaking heat, because they do not have enough data to be included on the map.
Map Source: The Irish Sun
In Türkiye, coastal regions have experienced more wildfires in recent years due to hotter and drier weather, caused by the climate crisis. In the last 3 days, more than 50,000 people have been evacuated from wildfires across 5 regions. In the Izmir region, winds reached 25-30 mph (40-50 kmph), fanning wildfires, and forcing the government to evacuate more than 41 settlements. According to the heat tracker map, the Izmir region has been an average of 9.85°F (12.31 °C) warmer than the average for July between 1991 and 2020. Temperatures are predicted to reach 104 °F (40 °C) later this week, exacerbating the fire risk.
In Italy, 17 of the 27 major cities are experiencing a heat wave. On June 30th, torrential rains covered parts of Bardonecchia near Turin in sludge after the Frejus river banks burst. Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day and trade unions are campaigning to extend the ban to the rest of the country. According to the heat tracker map, Italy’s average temperature is 8.5°F (4.7°C) warmer than the average for July between 1991 and 2020. In Sicily, the average temperature is 7.6°F higher than the average.
Map Source: Associated Press
The climate crisis is not only causing these extreme weather events, but also exacerbating their effects. Oceans and other large bodies of water normally provide cooling effects, but rising sea temperatures negate the Mediterranean’s ability to cool coastal areas. Near Spain’s Balearic Islands, recent Mediterranean surface temperatures have been 9 – 10.5°F (5 – 6°C) higher than average, at 78 – 86°F (26 – 30°C). This means that coastal communities experience no relief from the heat, even at night. 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing the 2.7°F (1.5°C) mark identified as a benchmark for limiting the worst impacts of climate change. Many climate consequences, like sea-level rise and the disappearance of mountain glaciers, would take centuries if not thousands of years to restore. Climate change is a multiplier of extreme weather events and public health risks. Scientists warn that extreme weather will only get worse, if we continue on our current path.
References
Associated Press. (2025, June 28). Europe Sizzles Under First Major Heat Wave of Summer. AP News.
Bate, A. (2025, June 30). Turkey Inferno. The Irish Sun.
Al Jazeera. (2025, June 28). Southern Europe Roasts as First Heatwave of the Summer Scorches Continent.
Martuscelli, C. (2025, June 28). Lethal Heat is Europe’s New Climate Reality. Politico Europe.
United Nations. 1.5°C: What It Means and Why It Matters.