Heatwave warnings spread as France reports three deaths

European heatwave – Three people died in France from health issues linked to extreme heat as nearly 2,700 schools prepared to close or change schedules. Across Europe, red heatwave alerts were issued for parts of France and Spain, with forecasts pointing to scorching temperatures

When the thermometer refuses to drop. the danger moves from daytime heat to sleepless nights—something authorities across Europe are warning will persist into Monday. In France. three people have died from health problems caused by extreme heat. even as officials prepare to change how thousands of families move through the day.

Across the country, almost 2,700 French schools were set to close or modify timetables as heatwave warnings were issued for Monday. In Bordeaux, in France’s southwest, temperatures were forecast to exceed 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Meteo France said 49 regional administrative areas would be under a red heatwave warning on Monday.

“We’re heading for, at the very least, several days of very, very hot weather. We don’t know when temperatures will start falling,” French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on TV channel TF1.

In Spain, the warning was just as stark. Spain’s state weather agency Aemet issued a red alert for the Basque country, where the mercury in San Sebastian was set to rise to a high of 40C—almost double its historic average for this time of year, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.

Aemet’s spokesperson Rubén del Campo said: “We are seeing temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees above normal for this time of year, and in some northern areas even more than 10 degrees above average.”

Night brings little relief in parts of Spain. Aemet said temperatures failed to drop below 25C or even 30C in places like the southwestern province of Almeria.

Europe was the continent furthest from its historic norm on Monday, with an average high temperature of 24C—4.1C above what was typical from 1961-1990, according to the climate monitor. By comparison, Asia and North America were 2C and 1.3C above their historic benchmarks.

On the ground, heat is not only testing people—it is overwhelming animals that can’t escape. In northern Europe, wildlife shelters were struggling to cope with the number of animals brought in suffering from the heat.

Romaine de Jaegere. a biologist and founder of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Animals Living in the Wild (Creaves) wildlife refuge in Temploux. Belgium. said birds such as swifts. swallows. sparrows. and starlings have been particularly affected because they nest in the eaves of roofs. She told Reuters: “Temperatures on the roofs can sometimes reach 50, even 60 degrees Celsius. So they prefer to jump rather than let themselves die and literally cook in their nests.”.

De Jaegere said the shelter had received 150 animals in the last three days.

The picture forming across multiple countries is straightforward: higher-than-usual daytime temperatures paired with warm nights can stretch risks well beyond the first alert—into schools, healthcare decisions, and emergency rescue for wildlife that cannot regulate its own body heat.

Scientists are also watching what comes after this wave. They are concerned that “the Blob” ocean heat wave could return with El Niño. even as La Niña has already ended and its effects continue. Authorities and weather agencies are focused on what Tuesday and the rest of the week may bring—but Monday’s heat. with its red warnings in France and Spain. is already forcing immediate changes.

European heatwave France heatwave deaths school closures France Meteo France red warning Spain Aemet red alert Basque country heatwave San Sebastian 40C night temperatures Almeria wildlife refuge Creaves Belgium ocean heat wave Blob El Nino La Nina