Heat wave slashes travel, closes sights, empties ice cream

A European heat wave spanning 18 countries has driven record temperatures, forced transport disruptions and early closures, and sent demand for cold food surging. With many regions lacking air conditioning, officials urged people to limit travel and stay hydra

A thermometer in Brussels showed 45 degrees Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit, as the heat wave pressed on across Europe. The scorching conditions weren’t easing so much as escalating—began last week. continued to spike on Thursday. and were tied to a heat dome. a high-pressure system that traps heat and humidity.

By Tuesday, the extreme temperatures were already reshaping everyday routines. In Brussels, people and dogs splashed in sidewalk sprinklers and fountains. In Venice, Italy, billboards issued heat wave alerts when temperatures reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday. Tourists on the Ponte della Paglia carried umbrellas, leaning on whatever shade they could find.

For travelers, the heat brought more than discomfort. The UK experienced its hottest June day on record on Wednesday. with temperatures reaching 97 degrees Fahrenheit—enough to trigger train cancellations. Signs at King’s Cross station in London advised train passengers to “only travel if absolutely necessary” on Wednesday and Thursday. and riders on the tube carried fans to cool themselves off.

Businesses and public venues adjusted quickly, too. In Paris, the Louvre announced it would close early through June 27 due to the extreme temperatures. Meanwhile. the demand side of daily life turned into a visible scramble: ice cream sold out at supermarkets across Paris amid skyrocketing demand for frozen treats. leaving refrigerated aisles nearly empty.

The shortage wasn’t limited to humans. At Paris Zoological Park, sea lions snacked on ice cubes as keepers worked to keep animals cool. In the Netherlands, keepers at Safaripark Beekse Bergen provided giraffe-friendly ice cream, offering giraffes something cold while the heat held steady.

Infrastructure also absorbed the strain. In Germany’s Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis, winter maintenance vehicles sprayed down roads to keep asphalt from softening. Parts of Germany’s A2 highway still had to close on Thursday after high temperatures damaged the road’s surface.

Even agriculture was forced to improvise. In Oberried, Germany, a farm used a misting system to help alleviate heat stress for its cows, turning barns into cooler zones through technology rather than comfort.

Across the continent, the basic message from governments was plain: stay hydrated. Several European governments issued health warnings advising the public to minimize unnecessary travel and carry water while outdoors—an instruction sharpened by the fact that. for much of Europe. there is little relief from the sweltering weather because many homes and workplaces lack air conditioning.

The risk profile has also gone beyond fatigue and inconvenience. The heat has proven fatal, with five dead from heat exposure in Italy and 40 drowning deaths reported in France, where many young people have taken to swimming unattended in lakes and canals.

The numbers underline why this isn’t just a weather story: more than 120 million people across 18 European countries are caught in a heat wave. with record-breaking temperatures exceeding 113 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. And behind the immediate crisis sits the longer trend highlighted earlier this year—reported by the World Meteorological Organization in April—that Europe is warming at twice the global average due to the climate crisis. with 95% of the continent experiencing above-average annual temperatures last year.

European heat wave Brussels 45°C Venice heat alerts UK train cancellations King’s Cross travel advice Louvre early closure June 27 ice cream sold out Paris A2 highway closure Germany road surface damage heat dome climate crisis warming Europe WMO April report drownings France swimming lakes canals