Europe heatwave live: UK braces for record-breaking temperatures; Italy issues red alert for 16 cities

Europe experienced extreme heatwave conditions on June 24, 2026, with the United Kingdom bracing for record-breaking temperatures potentially reaching 40C in some areas. Italy issued a red alert for 16 cities, indicating severe health risks. The heatwave, which had already caused France to record its hottest day ever and led to 40 drownings across the country, was slowly spreading eastward. Some relief was anticipated from the west of Europe later in the day, as Spain's national weather service predicted a drop in temperatures across most of the country. By June 27, 2026, no part of Spain was expected to be rated red or orange for heat warnings, with only parts of the Basque country remaining marked red by the afternoon of June 24, 2026. The Netherlands also issued heat warnings as the extreme weather pattern affected multiple European nations.