Europe Heatwave Intensifies: UK Faces Record Temperatures, France Sets Nighttime Record The European heatwave has escalated, with the UK anticipating temperatures of up to 38°C, surpassing the June 1976 record, while France experienced its hottest night since records began in 1947. The extreme weather has triggered widespread impacts, from soaring electricity prices to health warnings and wildfire risks. France’s national weather agency reported that the country’s average temperature reached 21.6°C on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 21.4°C set in July 2019. This unprecedented heatwave has also disrupted energy markets, with electricity prices surging to levels typically seen during winter. In Germany, wholesale prices hit €545.51 per megawatt-hour, the highest since June 2024, while France’s prices climbed to €268.67/MWh, the highest since August 2023. The UK’s power markets saw prices near £230/MWh, three times the average of £86.28/MWh in June 2025. The heatwave has also forced the shutdown of a major French nuclear plant due to limited cooling water availability. French utility EDF expects the reactor to remain offline until temperatures normalize next week. Meanwhile, the high-pressure heat dome has reduced wind speeds, hampering renewable energy generation and exacerbating the energy crisis. In Spain, nearly all regions were under heat alerts, with red warnings issued for areas around Cordoba, Bilbao, and Cantabria. Temperatures of up to 40°C in the shade were forecast, an unusual occurrence for the Basque Country. Central and northern Spain faced orange alerts, while coastal regions remained unaffected. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, warned that the crisis highlights the interconnectedness of climate and energy challenges.#france #uk #edf #european_heatwave #antnio_guterres
