Spain, Portugal Record Hottest June Amid Deadly European Heatwave

June 2025 has become the hottest ever recorded in both Portugal and Spain, as an unrelenting heatwave continues to sweep across Europe.

Spain’s weather agency, Aemet, reported that this “extremely hot” June has shattered all previous records, with temperatures even exceeding the usual highs of midsummer months like July and August.

Portugal’s meteorological service confirmed a blistering 46.6°C as the highest temperature for June, recorded in the eastern town of Mora.

Across the continent, the impact has been severe. In western Turkey, intense wildfires have forced the evacuation of over 50,000 residents, primarily from the Izmir region. Fires were also reported in Bilecik, Hatay, Sakarya, and Manisa. Authorities say 263 separate blazes have broken out across the country in just three days.

Meanwhile in Italy, two individuals died due to heat-related incidents. Hospitalizations in Tuscany have surged by 20%. Twenty-one out of 27 Italian cities have been placed under the highest heat alert, while several regions — including Lombardy and Emilia — have advised residents to avoid going outdoors during peak heat hours. In Lombardy, working outdoors has been restricted during midday hours through September.

“Rising temperatures, rising seas, floods, droughts, and wildfires threaten our rights to life, to health, to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and much more,” said the UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, addressing the Human Rights Council on Monday.

In Greece, temperatures have hovered near 40°C for several consecutive days, prompting evacuations from seaside communities around Athens due to raging wildfires that destroyed multiple homes.

France experienced unprecedented heat this week, with numerous cities enduring their hottest June day and night on record. The Eiffel Tower’s upper section was closed, and the government declared a red alert for the Paris region and 15 others. Over 1,300 public schools were either fully or partially shut on Tuesday.

Aemet reported that some parts of the Iberian Peninsula reached temperatures above 43°C overnight. In cities like Seville and Barcelona, nighttime lows remained uncomfortably high, at 28°C and 27°C, respectively. A modest dip in temperatures is expected starting Thursday.

The UK also faced unusually high heat, with temperatures peaking at 33.1°C at Heathrow — just below the record for the hottest June day. Wimbledon recorded its warmest-ever opening day at 32.9°C.

Germany’s meteorological agency warned of potential record-breaking highs of nearly 38°C on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Rhine River, a key trade route, saw reduced water levels, limiting how much cargo barges can carry and increasing freight costs.

In the Balkans, heat has begun to ease slightly, but the region too has faced wildfires — including reported incidents in Montenegro.

The environmental toll continues to rise. Warmer Adriatic Sea temperatures are allowing invasive species like the poisonous lionfish to thrive. At the same time, Europe’s mountain glaciers are suffering, with ice loss now accelerating faster than ever.

Heatwaves are intensifying due to climate change caused by human activity, experts say. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, such extreme heat events will become more frequent and severe as the planet warms further.

“The warmer, thirstier atmosphere is more effective at drying soils, meaning heatwaves are intensifying, with moderate heat events now becoming extreme,” explained Richard Allan, a climate science professor at the University of Reading.

“Rising temperatures, rising seas, floods, droughts, and wildfires threaten our rights to life, to health, to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and much more,” Turk reiterated, emphasizing the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in climate adaptation strategies.