Newsroom
If it feels hot in Cyprus, you are not imagining it, but right now, much of Europe is going through something even more extreme.
A powerful early-summer heatwave is gripping the continent, pushing temperatures close to 40°C in parts of southern and central Europe and placing huge strain on health systems, public services, and everyday life.
In Germany, where temperatures have climbed unusually high for June, police water cannons that are normally seen at protests have taken on a very different role, helping cool down crowds in public squares as authorities try to keep people safe during the heat.
Across Spain, France, and Italy, the situation has been even more severe, with reports of hundreds of heat-related deaths and thousands of people seeking medical help for dehydration, heat exhaustion, and related illnesses. Some cities have been forced to cancel outdoor events altogether, while others have issued red alerts urging people to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours.
For many Cypriots reading this, it may feel familiar. Cyprus is no stranger to intense summer heat, but experts say what is happening across Europe is another sign of a worrying trend: longer, hotter, and more dangerous heatwaves arriving earlier in the season.
And it is not just about discomfort.
Extreme heat puts pressure on hospitals, increases risks for elderly people and outdoor workers, and drives up electricity demand as air conditioning use spikes across entire countries at once.
Meteorologists say the current system is part of a wider pattern linked to climate change, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and more intense across Europe.
The message from health authorities across the continent is simple: take the heat seriously. Drink water regularly, avoid unnecessary outdoor activity during peak hours, and check on vulnerable people such as the elderly or those living alone.
While Cyprus is used to summer temperatures climbing into the high 30s, the scale of what is happening across Europe serves as a reminder that extreme weather is no longer something happening “somewhere else"; it is becoming a shared European reality.
And as scenes from Germany show police equipment being used not for control but for cooling relief, it underlines just how unusual and how intense this summer heat has become.
Europe is living one of the worse heatwaves ever.
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) June 28, 2026
Germany has just reached a record of 41.7°C.
Water cannons are being used to help cool people in Berlin as temperatures continue to soar. pic.twitter.com/ExZ8toFOra
