Europe's heatwave shifts east as France raises health alert to highest level
Key takeaways
- Temperatures in Germany could hit 40C in some western and south-western areas on Thursday, and across the country on Friday.
- In France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that the health alert level is being raised to its highest, to boost hospital staffing and protect the vulnerable.
- Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said they were now seeing deaths among young people linked to the extreme temperatures, as well as the elderly.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Kirby, Europe digital editor, Laura Gozzi and Bethany Bell, In Leipzig Published25 June 2026, 13:22 BSTUpdated 6 minutes ago Heatwave conditions that have left Spain, France and the UK sweltering for days are set to shift to the east, with forecasters in Germany and the Czech Republic warning of extreme conditions.
Temperatures in Germany could hit 40C in some western and south-western areas on Thursday, and across the country on Friday. An extreme weather warning is now in place in much of the Czech Republic.
In France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that the health alert level is being raised to its highest, to boost hospital staffing and protect the vulnerable.