Heatwave Hits Europe: Cities, Trains and Wildlife in Trouble

Europe is feeling a big heatwave that pushed temperatures close to 40°C. The hottest day of the year has raised alarms about long‑term heat staying in place. In Italy, eight cities went into a red alert after days of over‑35°C weather. Even in Rome, people shielded themselves with umbrellas while the Pope gave a prayer from the palace window. The rise in heat comes from hot air drifting north from Africa, held up by a strong high‑pressure system. Meteorologists call this a “heat dome, ” which traps warm air over western and central Europe and lets temperatures climb each day. Madrid’s market crowd used fans and cold drinks to stay cool, while a 22‑year‑old engineer from Miami shared how she kept her electric fan handy.Spain’s weather agency warned that the heat would linger until mid‑week, issuing red and orange alerts for much of the Iberian Peninsula. In France, high temperatures threatened train power lines and tracks. The rail company moved 3, 500 staff to monitor the network and cancelled 71 intercity trains. Germany faced thunderstorms in its east, with heavy rain disrupting a music festival in Berlin and forcing an evacuation of the tennis tournament site. Wildlife rescuers near Namur, Belgium, reported taking in about 150 heat‑stressed animals, especially young birds. The rescuers say nests can become deadly hot and many nestlings try to escape by jumping instead of staying inside. Experts link the growing intensity and frequency of heatwaves in Europe to climate change, warning that such events will become more common.