The Associated Press reported that hospitals in France, among the countries hardest hit by last week’s extreme heat, are implementing lessons learned from the recent crisis as health officials warn that prolonged periods of high temperatures are becoming increasingly frequent because of climate change.

At the Paris-Saclay Hospital near Paris, medical teams faced unexpected shortages while treating patients suffering from severe heat-related illnesses. Emergency staff urgently required large quantities of ice to rapidly cool critically ill patients through cold-water immersion but initially lacked an industrial ice-making machine. A nearby fast-food restaurant supplied ice, while hospital staff also purchased additional supplies from supermarkets. The hospital has since ordered its own ice machine to improve readiness for future emergencies.

Hospital director Cédric Lussiez said the recent heat wave demonstrated that existing preparations were insufficient despite previous planning.

“We thought we were ready. We were not actually,” Lussiez said, describing the week as “horrible.” He said the hospital had to develop new solutions around the clock and had already begun applying lessons from the experience.

Governments expand heat resilience measures

France is also strengthening its national response after the heat wave placed significant pressure on healthcare services.

During the country’s hottest days last week, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a €100 million ($114 million) investment beginning this summer to improve hospital cooling systems and help medical facilities remain operational during future periods of extreme heat.

Following a series of government crisis meetings, Lecornu also said authorities are purchasing 30,000 air-conditioning units for healthcare facilities, with initial deliveries expected within days. He said reducing pressure on hospitals during future heat waves had become an immediate priority.

WHO warns extreme heat is becoming the norm

The World Health Organization described the recent European heat wave as “a dress rehearsal” for increasingly difficult summers driven by climate change.

The organization said Europe is warming at more than twice the global average rate and warned that extreme heat can no longer be viewed as an isolated event. It urged governments to improve preparedness, warning that insufficient planning would continue to cost lives.

Hospitals report sharp increase in heat-related emergencies

At Paris-Saclay Hospital, emergency physician Dr. Nicolas Gonzales said patients suffering from heat exposure began arriving in large numbers on June 20, creating sustained pressure on emergency services for an entire week.

The hospital treated patients experiencing dehydration, heart attacks, kidney complications and other conditions linked to prolonged heat exposure. Cases involved people across all age groups, including children and older adults living alone.

Gonzales said one of the first patients was a 50-year-old man who fell into a coma at home after his body temperature reached about 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). He required immediate transport for intensive medical treatment.

He said hospitals are increasingly preparing for climate-related emergencies in much the same way they prepare for annual influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks.

Infrastructure upgrades accelerate

Although Paris-Saclay Hospital’s newer buildings are equipped with air conditioning, several older hospitals within the same hospital group struggled to maintain safe indoor temperatures during the heat wave.

To protect temperature-sensitive medicines, staff relied on temporary cooling measures using electric fans and blocks of ice. Student nurses were recruited to help ensure patients remained hydrated, while temperatures inside an upper-floor psychiatric ward reached approximately 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit), according to hospital officials.

Lussiez said renovation work is now being accelerated, including the creation of dedicated cooling rooms on every floor of the psychiatric unit and plans to relocate a department serving elderly patients into newer hospital facilities that offer better protection against extreme heat.

He said the improvements are intended to ensure hospitals are better equipped should another heat wave arrive in the coming days or later this summer, as forecasters have indicated remains possible.

Tags: France, Europe, Heat Wave, Climate Change, Hospitals, Healthcare, World Health Organization, Public Health, Emergency Medicine, Extreme Weather, Paris-Saclay Hospital, Sébastien Lecornu

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The crisis has placed significant pressure on funeral homes in and around Paris, where operators say refrigerated storage facilities have reached their limits as families struggle to arrange services for loved ones.

Paris Mortuaries Reach Capacity

Zouhaeir Hertelli, who operates a mortuary near Paris’ Orly Airport, said he has been forced to decline repeated requests from funeral directors seeking additional storage space for bodies.

With all 32 refrigerated spaces occupied, Hertelli described the situation as unprecedented, saying his business has received hundreds of calls from funeral professionals searching for available capacity.

According to Hertelli, funeral homes throughout the Paris region have rapidly filled, forcing some funeral directors to transport bodies to facilities in Chartres, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the French capital, as well as to other regions outside Paris.

He said he has requested permission from authorities to install temporary refrigerated containers outside his facility to expand storage capacity but has not yet received approval.

The shortage has added emotional strain for grieving families already coping with unexpected losses.

“We have no solution to offer them,” Hertelli said, explaining that funeral homes throughout the area are already operating at full capacity.

Deaths Increased During Peak Heat

France’s national public health agency released its first preliminary assessment of mortality during the most intense phase of the heat wave, indicating a substantial increase in daily deaths.

The agency reported more than 1,200 deaths on Wednesday, when France recorded its hottest day on record after surpassing the previous national temperature record set only one day earlier.

Daily deaths rose further to more than 1,400 on both Thursday and Friday.

Before the heat wave intensified, France typically recorded between 900 and 1,000 deaths per day during April and May.

Based on its initial analysis, Public Health France estimated that at least 1,000 additional deaths occurred across the three-day period. Officials cautioned that the figure is expected to increase as more death certificates are processed, particularly from private homes and care facilities where electronic registration systems are not universally used.

The agency stated that mortality figures will likely rise as additional reporting becomes available.

Older Adults Among the Hardest Hit

Preliminary data showed that approximately 85% of the recorded deaths during the three-day period involved people aged 65 and older.

Officials also observed a significant increase in deaths occurring at home, especially across the Paris metropolitan region, where fatalities in private residences rose by roughly 40%.

Funeral director Véronique Bertrand said many of the deaths involved elderly individuals who had been living alone.

Based on the conditions in which many victims were discovered, Bertrand said she believes extreme heat was the likely cause of death in numerous cases.

She urged communities to renew the sense of solidarity that emerged after France’s deadly 2003 heat wave, encouraging neighbors, relatives, and friends to regularly check on vulnerable residents during periods of extreme temperatures.

Bertrand warned that public awareness may have faded over time despite earlier efforts to improve protections for older people.

Lessons From Previous Heat Waves

France has experienced deadly heat waves before. The country’s 2003 summer heat disaster was blamed for approximately 15,000 deaths and prompted major reforms aimed at protecting elderly and vulnerable residents during periods of extreme weather.

More recently, authorities attributed more than 5,700 deaths to exceptionally hot conditions during last summer.

The latest heat wave exceeded temperature records set in previous years, with daytime highs surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across many parts of France while unusually warm nighttime temperatures provided little relief for exhausted populations.

Public health officials continue to collect mortality data as they work to determine the full impact of this year’s historic heat event.

As Europe continues to experience increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat, authorities are expected to closely examine emergency preparedness measures, public health protections, and support systems for vulnerable populations once the final mortality figures become available.

Tags: France, Paris, Europe Heat Wave, Extreme Weather, Public Health France, Climate, Elderly Care, Funeral Services, Mortuaries, Heat Deaths, Paris Region, Public Health

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According to national meteorological agencies and official statements, record-breaking temperatures were recorded in Switzerland, Denmark and the Czech Republic as the intense heat that affected western Europe earlier in the week expanded eastward.

Denmark’s Meteorological Institute reported a record temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in Ødum, north of Aarhus, marking the country’s hottest day since weather records began in 1874.

Switzerland also registered a new high, with authorities reporting 38.8 C (101.8 F) in the city of Basel. In the Czech Republic, forecasters said temperatures climbed to 40.8 C (105.4 F) in the northern town of Doksany, the highest level ever recorded in the country.

Heat Disrupts Transport in Germany

Germany faced widespread disruption as temperatures approached 40 C (104 F). Sections of the country’s transportation infrastructure were damaged after extreme heat caused concrete on parts of the A2 Autobahn outside Berlin to buckle, forcing temporary road closures. German newspaper Bild also reported additional highway damage elsewhere in the country.

Rail operator Deutsche Bahn advised passengers to avoid nonessential travel over the weekend, saying record temperatures were significantly affecting Germany’s transport infrastructure.

In the western city of Dormagen, emergency responders evacuated dozens of residents from a nursing home after indoor temperatures reached 35 C (95 F). Local authorities said one resident died overnight, although officials told German news agency dpa that it had not been determined whether the death was related to the heat.

French Hospitals Experience Increased Demand

France continued to face heavy pressure on its healthcare system despite forecasts suggesting the most intense phase of the heat wave was beginning to ease in some regions.

Paris and 36 surrounding regions remained under the country’s highest-level heat alert on Saturday. The Paris public hospital authority, AP-HP, said it activated emergency response measures across its 38 hospitals after nearly 3,000 people sought treatment in emergency departments for a second consecutive day, roughly one-third above normal levels.

The hospital authority also reported that calls to its medical dispatch centers had risen by nearly 80% compared with the same period in 2025.

Concerns over the strain on emergency services contributed to the postponement of the Paris Pride march and the cancellation of a three-day music festival.

AP-HP Director Nicolas Revel said he does not expect fatalities to reach the level seen during the devastating 2003 European heat wave, citing improvements in medical treatment for heat-related illnesses. However, he warned that deaths were still expected as temperatures remained exceptionally high.

France’s public health authority previously attributed more than 5,700 deaths to heat during another exceptionally hot summer last year.

United Kingdom and Italy Remain on Alert

In the United Kingdom, weather conditions were expected to gradually improve over the weekend, although an amber heat warning remained in effect through Saturday night.

Officials confirmed that Friday became the hottest June day on record after a provisional temperature of 37.3 C (99 F) was recorded in eastern England, surpassing the previous June record established in 1976.

Police also reported that the bodies of a 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were recovered from separate bodies of water on Saturday, bringing the number of heat-related fatalities reported in the U.K. during the week to four. Authorities continued to warn against swimming in unsupervised locations.

Italy also remained under intense heat conditions. The country’s Health Ministry placed 18 cities, including Rome, Venice, Florence, Bologna and Milan, under red alert because of the health risks posed by the high temperatures.

Tourists in Rome sought relief by staying in shaded areas, using public drinking fountains and purchasing water, hats and umbrellas as temperatures remained elevated.

Climate Study Links Heat to Global Warming

A study released Friday by World Weather Attribution, a Europe-based collaboration of scientists, concluded that this week’s extreme heat and humidity would not have been possible without climate change.

The researchers said such conditions would have been virtually impossible five decades ago and estimated that similar events are now around 200 times more likely than they were 20 years ago.

Speaking to The Associated Press, COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago said the widespread heat had reinforced the urgency of international efforts to address climate change, adding that the conditions being experienced across Europe underscored the need for faster global action.

Tags: Europe, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Heatwave, Climate Change, Public Health, Extreme Weather

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Summer isn’t easing in quietly this year — it’s showing up with a bang.

A massive heat dome is expected to blanket much of the U.S. this week, bringing oppressive heat and humidity to millions from the Midwest to the East Coast. For many, this will be the first taste of true summer weather — and it won’t be a gentle one.

The Midwest Is in the Hot Seat

This weekend, states like Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kansas are bracing for the worst of it. The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning of extreme temperature impacts, especially in parts of the Midwest where “category 4” risk levels — the highest on their heat scale — are expected.

That means anyone without access to cooling or proper hydration could face serious health risks, including heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

“We’ve heard a lot of people asking, ‘Where’s summer?’” said Tom Kines, meteorologist at AccuWeather. “Well, buckle up, because it’s coming.”

What’s a Heat Dome, Anyway?

A heat dome forms when a high-pressure system settles over an area and traps hot, moist air beneath it — essentially creating a giant lid on the atmosphere. That trapped heat keeps baking the region for days, sometimes even weeks.

“It acts like a pressure cooker,” explained Ricky Castro of the National Weather Service in Illinois.

And it’s not just the temperatures. The humidity will make it feel even worse. While thermometers may read 90°F (32°C) or higher, the heat index — or “feels like” temperature — could be 10 to 20 degrees hotter in some places.

How Hot Will It Get?

Here’s a preview of what to expect across some major cities:

• Denver could hit 100°F (38°C) by Friday
• Chicago is expected to reach 96°F (36°C) on Sunday
• Washington, D.C. may spike to 99°F (37°C) by Tuesday
• New York City’s Central Park could hit 96°F (36°C)

Nighttime won’t bring much relief either — temperatures will hover in the mid-70s°F (mid-20s°C), giving bodies and buildings little chance to cool down.

Humidity Makes the Heat Even More Dangerous

The real trouble with this kind of heat? The humidity.

When it’s humid, sweat evaporates more slowly, which means your body can’t cool itself as effectively. This raises the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke — especially for vulnerable groups like older adults, young children, and those with chronic health issues.

To stay safe, the NWS recommends:

• Staying hydrated
• Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing
• Avoiding direct sunlight
• Spending time in air-conditioned spaces

Dry Heat vs. Humid Heat

Not all heat is created equal. Cities like Phoenix, Arizona, experience what’s called dry heat — extremely hot but low in humidity. While sweat evaporates more quickly in these conditions (which helps cool you down), it can also be deceptive. You may not realize how much fluid you’re losing.

“You can get dehydrated fast without noticing,” warn experts at Johns Hopkins University.

Even the Cornfields Are Sweating

Believe it or not, crops contribute to humidity too — especially in places like Iowa.

Farmers call it “corn sweat.” When temperatures rise, corn plants release moisture into the air to cool themselves down. It’s not the main driver of Midwest humidity (most of that comes from the Gulf of Mexico), but it does add to the steamy conditions.

“It’s not as bad as a sauna,” said Ryan Marquardt, a farmer in Madison County, Iowa, “but it definitely has a sauna effect. It’s humid in there, so you’re gonna sweat.”

Final Takeaway

This incoming heat dome is no ordinary summer heatwave. It’s shaping up to be intense, long-lasting, and potentially dangerous. Keep an eye on local forecasts, look out for vulnerable neighbors, and take steps to protect yourself — especially over the weekend if you’re in the Midwest.

Summer has arrived, and it’s not playing around.

Source: AP News – Heat dome will blanket much of the US, with worrisome temperatures in Midwest

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