-'Everybody is at risk,' warns WMO, even healthy individuals, saying extreme heat, fueled by human-induced climate change, becoming 'more frequent, more intense'

ISTANBUL / GENEVA

France and other European countries are battling a severe heat wave this week that has triggered red alerts, school closures, transport restrictions, and heightened wildfire risks across the continent.

French authorities placed 16 departments under the highest red alert level, with temperatures expected to reach up to 41C (106F), weather service Meteo France said Tuesday.

An additional 68 departments were under orange alert, the second-highest level.

In Paris, the summit of the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors due to the extreme heat, while authorities in the capital banned high-polluting vehicles and reduced speed limits to combat worsening air quality caused by high ozone levels.

“Remember to protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated,” the Eiffel Tower management warned in a statement. Water fountains were made available to visitors around the site.

The French Golfech nuclear power plant also temporarily shut down due to soaring river temperatures caused by an intense heat wave.

"The weather conditions of recent days have caused a significant rise in the temperature of the Garonne, which is expected to reach 28°C (82.4F) on Monday, June 30," the state-owned power company said in a statement.

The heat also disrupted schools, with nearly 1,350 institutions partially or fully closed across the country.

Teachers reported overheated classrooms with inadequate ventilation, prompting concerns about student health. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, were urged to take extra precautions.

One elderly person a homeless man in the French cities of Grenoble and Besancon were found dead amid high temperatures, according to local media.

French President Emmanuel Macron also warned the public against the intense heat on X. "Let’s look out for our loved ones, our neighbors, our colleagues. Let’s take care of one another," he wrote on X.

The extreme heat is affecting large parts of southern Europe. Spain registered a new June record of 46C (114F) in the south, while Portugal experienced highs of 40C (104F) in several inland cities.

A rare "roll cloud" was spotted Monday along Portugal’s northern coast, surprising beachgoers as it brought violent winds and darkened skies.

Italy also issued red heat alerts for 18 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Palermo. In the northern Piedmont region, flash flooding caused by intense rainfall killed a 70-year-old man.

“We are increasingly facing weather emergencies that were once considered exceptional,” said regional leader Alberto Cirio.

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) announced that an orange alert is in effect Tuesday and Wednesday for three provinces -- Noord-Brabant, Gelderland and Limburg.

It noted that the National Heat Plan has been active nationwide since Monday.

UN agency warns of intensifying extreme heat

As the world enters what is traditionally the hottest month of the year, the UN's weather agency is ramping up warnings about extreme heat, which it calls a "silent killer."

"Today is the first of July, which is traditionally the hottest month of the year, certainly in the northern hemisphere, also at the global level," Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said Tuesday in Geneva.

Extreme heat, fueled by human-induced climate change, is becoming "more frequent, more intense," she said.

Noting that a strong high-pressure system is currently pushing hot air from North Africa into Europe, she said: "We are seeing episodes of extreme heat, which normally we would see later on in summer." She highlighted unusually high sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean as a key factor.

Switzerland, including Geneva, is under an amber alert, she said, while France has issued a top-level red alert for 16 departments.

"Spain … reported a temperature of 46 degrees Celsius (114F) at the weekend," Nullis said, with Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Morocco also facing extreme heat.

The elderly, poor, and infirm are most at risk, she said, but "everybody is at risk," citing dangers even to healthy individuals exerting themselves outdoors. Urban residents are especially affected due to the "urban heat island effect," she said.

"We have the knowledge, we have the tools, we can save lives," she said, emphasizing that "every single death from heat is unnecessary."​​​​​​​