Italy has placed all of its major cities under the highest level of heat alert as a severe and blistering heat wave continues to grip Europe. This marks the first time this year that the entire national surveillance network, covering 27 cities, has been under a red alert simultaneously. The warnings, which stretch from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily, indicate a health risk for the entire population, rather than just vulnerable groups such as older adults or those with chronic illnesses.
As temperatures in various regions approach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), authorities have urged residents and tourists to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, remain indoors where possible, and drink plenty of water. To accommodate the extreme conditions, the ministries of tourism and culture have extended evening operating hours for major landmarks, including the Colosseum and the Pantheon in Rome. Cooling mist fans have been installed at the Colosseum's entrances, and additional medical stations have been deployed to support visitors.
The heat wave has set significant temperature records across the continent. In Austria, the village of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg recorded a national high of 41.2 C (106.2 F) on Wednesday, according to GeoSphere Austria. The country is also battling a severe drought, with rainfall from January 1 through June 30 measuring 27% below the long-term average, while some eastern regions received only half their normal precipitation. Climatologist Alexander Orlik noted that some parts of the country had not experienced such dry conditions since 1885.
The extreme weather is impacting infrastructure and energy production across Central Europe. In Hungary, record-low water levels on the Danube River have severely affected the nation's only nuclear power plant, which relies on river water to cool its reactors. Plant operators have reduced output to about 10% of normal production, prompting the government to introduce emergency conservation measures. Authorities have asked major industrial users and households to cut electricity consumption, particularly during peak demand hours between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Freight trains have been barred from operating during those hours, while decorative lighting on landmarks in Budapest has been switched off. Several major companies, including Mol, Gedeon Richter, Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW, have announced plans to curb electricity use. The government also canceled parliamentary sessions this week to conserve power. Furthermore, Budapest recorded its warmest overnight low on Wednesday, with temperatures failing to drop below 28 C (82 F).
In Germany, Transport Minister Steffen Bilger met with affected organizations on Thursday to address concerns over falling water levels on the Rhine and other rivers, which are hindering inland waterway shipping, industry, and the broader logistics chain. The environmental group BUND has urged authorities to focus on making rivers more resilient to climate change by retaining more water in landscapes and reducing withdrawals during droughts. Meanwhile, in southeastern France, firefighters continue to monitor the Var region. While a major wildfire that began on July 20 and consumed over 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) is no longer spreading, it remains capable of reigniting. Authorities warn that strong winds and extremely dry conditions leave the region at very high risk for additional wildfires.
The heat wave reached its peak across the Balkans on Thursday as temperatures neared 40 C (104 F). In Serbia, firefighters are struggling to contain several blazes, including one in pine forests west of Belgrade and another near the central town of Kraljevo, where difficult terrain has complicated efforts. In neighboring Croatia, tourists in Dubrovnik have been seeking refuge in the shade and avoiding beaches during the hottest hours of the day. Scientists and officials warn that such events are becoming more frequent and intense as the climate warms, exposing vulnerabilities in public health, power generation, transportation, and tourism infrastructure.
