英国伦敦基尤花园于周四记录了38.1°C的气温，成为今年最高温纪录，超过6月28日创下的38°C[1]。与此同时，欧洲第五次夏季热浪达到峰值，法国、西班牙等多国气温持续突破40°C大关[1]。法国经历了17天极端高温期间，波尔多、南特和巴黎分别达到39°C、37°C和37°C[1]，而西班牙米兰达德埃夫罗地区的最高温达到42.4°C[1]。英国国内，萨里郡查尔伍德达到37.1°C，为2003年以来最高的8月温度纪录[1]。
极端高温对欧洲造成了多方面的严重影响。德国官方估计今年夏天因热相关原因死亡人数约12500人，其中9000多人在6月下旬高温周内丧生[1]。英国医疗系统承受空前压力，5月至7月间，急诊科每月就诊患者超过240万人次，创历史新高，且国家卫生服务体系经历了创纪录的35个30°C以上高温天数[1]。此外，英国在7月创造纪录干旱条件下，英格兰近四分之三地区和威尔士全部处于干旱状态[1]，水务监管机构Ofwat因此允许供水公司增加账单支出34亿英镑[1]。能源方面，罗马尼亚于周四停运其唯一核电站的第二反应堆，该厂供应该国约五分之一的电力[1]；匈牙利帕克什核电站目前仅以平常产能的25%运行[1]。英国国家气象局预测，2026年可能成为首个记录四个36°C以上日期的年份[1]。
Britain has experienced its warmest day of the year, with temperatures reaching 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday, surpassing the previous high of 38°C recorded on June 28 [1]. This extreme heat marks the peak of Europe's fifth major heatwave of the summer, with several continental nations recording even higher temperatures as the crisis intensifies across the region.
The heat has spread across much of continental Europe, with France enduring 17 consecutive days of extreme temperatures including 39°C in Bordeaux, 37°C in Nantes and Paris, and 35°C in Montpellier [1]. Spain's Miranda de Ebro region reached 42.4°C [1], while in the UK, Charwood in Surrey recorded 37.1°C, marking the highest August temperature since 2003 [1]. Britain's national meteorological service has warned that 2026 could become the first year to record four days exceeding 36°C [1].
The consequences of this unprecedented heat are severe and multifaceted. Germany has documented approximately 12,500 heat-related deaths this summer, with over 9,000 occurring during a high-temperature week in late June [1]. The UK's National Health Service faces record pressure, with Accident & Emergency departments handling more than 2.4 million patient visits monthly during May, June, and July—the highest on record—while the NHS has endured 35 days with temperatures exceeding 30°C [1]. Water shortages have compounded the crisis, with July bringing record drought conditions affecting nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales [1], prompting the UK's water regulator Ofwat to authorize supply companies to increase spending by £3.4 billion [1].
Energy infrastructure has also come under strain from the heat. Romania shut down the second reactor of its only nuclear power station on Thursday [1], while Hungary's Paks nuclear facility currently operates at just 25 percent of normal capacity, an improvement from 10 percent earlier in the month [1]. The combination of extreme heat, water stress, and strained energy systems underscores the escalating climate vulnerability facing Europe's critical infrastructure and public health systems.