The columns are off scale: record heat has hit European countries

In the summer of 2025, Europe found itself in the epicenter of a climate catastrophe — an abnormal heat wave set temperature records, caused large-scale forest fires and endangered the energy system of a number of states. In Portugal, France, Italy and Spain, it was recorded above +43 degrees Celsius, and fires destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest. The disaster was followed by economic losses, disruptions in the operation of nuclear power plants and rising electricity prices. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

Where is the extreme heat in Europe in 2025

Since the end of May, Europe has been hit by an unprecedented heat wave. In Portugal, the temperature jumped to 46.6 degrees, one of the highest levels in history. The UK experienced its worst July on record.

Abnormal heat was recorded in Italy, France and Spain — the temperature in some regions has been rising to 43 degrees for a month.

The "red level" of danger has been introduced in 12 French departments, 41 more departments and the border state of Andorra are in the "orange" zone.

Particularly intense heat is expected in the French southwest - Carcassonne and Angouleme. In addition, due to the high risk of fires, 25 departments from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic have been switched to the "orange" mode.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retaio instructed prefects to mobilize mayors, monitor vulnerable groups and impose restrictions if necessary. The Minister of Health of the Fifth Republic, Yannick Neder, called for preventive measures to be taken so as not to overload medical facilities.

In Italy, the heat peak is forecast in the coming days, especially in the central and southern regions, where temperatures will reach 40 degrees, with maximum warmth on the coast of the Ligurian Sea, in Liguria and Tuscany. Less hot weather is expected in the interior of Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Lazio and eastern Sardinia.

In Spain, in the north, especially in Galicia, more than a thousand people were evacuated due to forest fires and strong winds. The temperature there reaches 40 degrees Celsius. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his support for the victims and thanked the emergency services for their help.

Forest fires in Europe due to heat

Europe is also facing unprecedented wildfires, which have already destroyed more than 350,000 hectares of forest. According to the data by mid-July, the total area of burnt-out territories in Europe exceeded 290 thousand hectares, which is significantly higher than the average of previous years. The countries of southern Europe — France, Italy, Spain and Greece - were particularly affected.

In France, in the department of Aude, the largest fire in recent decades occurred, destroying about 16 thousand hectares of forest, which exceeds the territory of Paris. About 1,400 firefighters were involved in fighting the fire, and restrictions on forest visits were introduced in the affected region. Despite the success in localization, the fire remains dangerous due to the expected peak heat. At least one woman was killed, who refused to evacuate, and several people were injured.

In Italy, a fire is raging in the Vesuvius National Park, where more than 500 hectares of forest have been destroyed and a popular tourist site has been closed.

Wildfires have also spread to Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, and even the northern part of the UK, indicating an unusually large-scale and early start to the fire season. The total area of fire-affected areas in the first half of 2025 has already exceeded the long-term average several times.

The main cause of such large-scale fires is a combination of abnormally high heat, prolonged drought and strong winds, which contribute to the rapid spread of fire. Scientists associate the increased frequency and intensity of fires with global climate change, emphasizing that such natural disasters are becoming the new norm.

The economic damage from fires for the European Union amounts to billions of euros annually, including direct damage from the destruction of forests and infrastructure, as well as indirect losses from disruptions in transport links and reduced tourist flow.

To sunbathe in the sun: the energy crisis is growing in Europe due to the heat

High temperatures endanger the power grid and lead to health emergencies.

What are the consequences of the heat wave in Europe

European nuclear power plants (NPP) have begun to reduce capacity amid the summer heat wave, which has become the hottest on record in Western Europe. This is due to the fact that the European electrical system has been seriously stressed due to a sharp increase in the use of air conditioners.

High temperatures make it difficult for reactors to cool down, so many plants in France and Switzerland have temporarily suspended or restricted operations, the Financial Times newspaper reports.

During the peak period from June 23 to July 3, total electricity demand in the EU increased by about 7.5%, and in Spain by 16%. This created a significant burden on the region's energy system and led to an increase in electricity prices.

Analysts note that 17 out of 18 nuclear power plants in France reduced capacity in June-July due to the heat. In addition, hydropower has also been affected by drought and high temperatures. This situation threatens the stability of energy supply and requires serious investments to modernize Europe's energy infrastructure.

In early summer, domestic nuclear power plants in Switzerland also temporarily suspended or reduced capacity due to difficulties in cooling the reactors in hot weather. The British energy company SSE also reported a 40% decrease in electricity generation at its hydroelectric power plants by the end of June compared to the previous quarter, due to abnormal heat and severe drought in the UK.

The Arctic Ocean is heating up dangerously

Scientists who monitor the Arctic have recorded unprecedented warming this summer. According to them, temperatures were rising almost four times faster than the global average. The Arctic Ocean experienced extreme heat stress in early August, when the sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic reached 32.8°C. At the same time, warmer waves have already caused serious damage to the northern coral reefs in different parts of the world.

According to the latest data, in August 2025, the volume of Arctic sea ice was at its lowest levels, the continuous melting of the massif has been going on for more than a year and is alarming to experts.