Temperatures in France were expected to reach or exceed 40 °C as a heatwave peaked on Sunday or Monday, according to Météo‑France. A fourth of the country was placed on an orange heatwave alert, the second‑highest level, and this was France’s second heatwave of 2026 following an unusually hot spell in May. Accounts differ on the extent of red alerts: one source reported that half of France was set to be placed on a red heatwave alert, while another source said more than half of the country was under red heatwave alerts. The same figures were reported separately by abc_au (half) and by bbc (more than half).

Dozens of trains were cancelled and classes were suspended in France because of the heat. Several French municipalities cancelled Fête de la Musique celebrations, and Paris authorities ordered parks to remain open around the clock. In Spain, a soccer fan zone was closed and sports events were cancelled, while Germany also cancelled sports events. Britain warned of “tropical nights” during the heatwave, and a record high temperature was expected on Monday, according to bluesky.

June’s extreme heat was linked to excess deaths exceeding 2,000 in Spain and France, as reported by the Guardian.