The record-breaking heat wave scorching much of the northern hemisphere serves as an alarming glimpse into a hotter future. It also indicates a more hazardous future, the UN’s weather agency warned. Just three days after Spain confirmed a record temperature of 46°C (114.8°F) in the southern town of El Granado, dangerously high day and night temperatures continue to strain communities across Europe and beyond amid ongoing heat waves.
In Barcelona, tragedy struck when a road sweeper reportedly died after completing her shift in the searing heat waves. This prompted an official investigation. There were renewed public appeals for caution.
“Everybody is at risk,” said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). “If you go out without water in the middle of the day to jog during a heat wave, you will probably have health problems. You could face issues if you ride a bike without water as well. You might even die.”
HUMAN-INDUCED CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE CORE
While the immediate cause of Europe’s heat misery is a powerful high-pressure weather system pulling hot air from northern Africa, experts stress that the bigger driver is clear:
“Human-induced climate change is the source of these acute weather events,” Ms. Nullis explained. Rising global temperatures caused by burning fossil fuels are making heat waves more frequent, more intense, and longer lasting.
The Mediterranean Sea is also running unusually warm for this time of year, contributing to the extreme conditions on land. “It’s the equivalent of a land heat wave,” Ms. Nullis noted.
EXTREME HEAT: A SILENT KILLER
Heat waves are often under-reflected in official statistics, even though they can be among the deadliest natural hazards. “Extreme heat creeps up on you,” Ms. Nullis warned.
Unlike storms or floods that arrive with obvious destruction, heat can silently overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate temperature during heat waves. This is especially true at night when the air fails to cool down.
RECORD TEMPERATURES DAY AND NIGHT
According to the WMO, both daytime highs and nighttime minimums have shattered June records. This occurred in many areas of Western and Southwestern Europe during significant heat waves.
This combination leaves people especially vulnerable because sleep is disrupted, and bodies cannot recover overnight. “The frequency and intensity of extreme heat waves is increasing in Europe,” Ms. Nullis said.
“By 2050, about half the European population may face high risk of heat stress during summer. Many will also face a very high risk.”
LIFE-SAVING WARNINGS AND ACTION PLANS
The WMO emphasized the critical importance of early warning systems during heat waves. They also stressed the need for heat-health action plans. These should be coordinated between meteorological services and public health authorities.
Such plans can mean the difference between life and death during heat waves. This is especially true for vulnerable groups like older adults and children. It also applies to outdoor workers and people with pre-existing health conditions.
“It’s something we have to learn to live with,” Ms. Nullis maintained.
EARLY WARNINGS FOR ALL
To help countries adapt, the WMO is promoting its Early Warnings for All platform, especially in the context of heat waves. This platform aims to ensure every person on Earth is protected by effective warnings by 2027. A key part of this is the WMO Coordination Mechanism. The WCM supports crisis-prone and conflict-affected regions with reliable weather, climate, and water information.
The WMO also produces resources such as the Global Hydromet Weekly Scan, curating authoritative forecasts and analyses to help governments prepare and respond to heat waves.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY SAFE
As heat waves intensify, health experts recommend:
- Avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day
- Staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol
- Checking on vulnerable neighbors and relatives during heat waves
- Seeking air-conditioned spaces where possible
A HARSH PREVIEW OF THE FUTURE
This record early-summer heat wave is a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present danger.
WMO and UN officials are urging governments and individuals alike to treat extreme heat waves with the seriousness it demands—and to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving this crisis. “What is exceptional—but not unprecedented—is the time of year,” Ms. Nullis concluded. “This is a taste of what lies ahead unless we act.”
