Heatwave grips southern Europe

Temperatures nearing 40°C in Madrid have forced residents indoors as a severe heatwave sweeps southern Europe, Dagbladet reports.

Swedish national Malin Johansson, 50, a long-time Madrid resident, described the conditions as unbearable. “It’s hard to breathe when it’s this hot,” she said. “You open the door and hit a wall of heat. It’s like a shock—indescribable, really.”

Daily activities such as exercise or walking outdoors have become nearly impossible. Johansson and her family now spend most of the day inside. “It’s too hot for a normal life. We can’t even lie by the pool,” she said.

Streets in Madrid are largely deserted during peak heat, with shutters and blinds drawn to keep out the sun. “It gets a bit eerie,” Johansson noted. “People stay indoors during the day, and the city only comes alive in the evening. Children play outside late, and we eat dinner at 10 p.m.”

Even walking the family dog has become a challenge. To avoid the hottest hours, Johansson takes the dog to parks with grass, trees, and shade. “It feels like the asphalt is boiling. Heat rises from the streets,” she said.

Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, recorded a daily average temperature of 28.17°C in Madrid on Tuesday—the highest June average since records began in 1950. Authorities have issued heat warnings for multiple regions, advising residents to stay in the shade, limit outdoor time, and drink plenty of water.

The heatwave has broken records across Europe. France recorded average June temperatures of 29.8°C on Tuesday and 30°C on Wednesday, the highest since 1947, according to Météo-France. In southern England, a 50-year-old June record was surpassed with 35.8°C.

Forecasters warn that the heatwave may extend northward, with eastern Norway expecting unusually high temperatures in the coming days.