Western Europe lived through its hottest June on record in 2026, EU scientists say, with the extreme heat reaching Luxembourg through red warnings, a river water-extraction ban and plans for a new mobile social-emergency service.
Preliminary mortality data published this week show the late-June heatwave caused 2,025 excess deaths in France and an unprecedented 39% rise in Belgian mortality, with at least 3,700 excess deaths across France, Belgium and the Netherlands combined. Luxembourg recorded its hottest June since measurements began in 1947, including a new 38.2°C June record at Findel, and forecasters warn extreme heat could return to the region in the first half of July.
Spain recorded its second-hottest June since 1961, and public-health monitors attributed more than 1,000 excess deaths to the heat — more than double June 2025. The same heat dome pushed red alerts across Luxembourg.
A record-breaking June heatwave has swept much of Europe, with France warning its death toll will keep rising and the WHO linking more than 1,300 excess deaths to the heat. Luxembourg spent much of the week under a MeteoLux red alert, with schools, construction and rail services disrupted and the government activating its heat plan.
Luxembourg lifted its red heat warning on Sunday morning after a punishing week, as an extreme heatwave linked to a stalled high-pressure system toppled records across western and central Europe, killed hundreds and forced authorities to reorganise schools, building sites and emergency services.
Scientists with World Weather Attribution conclude the late-June 2026 heatwave gripping Western Europe — which pushed Luxembourg to a record 36.3°C and triggered a national red alert over National Day — would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change.
An exceptionally early heatwave drove France to record temperatures and put more than half the country under red alert, while Luxembourg and the wider Greater Region stood up a crisis command post and warned the heat would intensify from Wednesday.