Temperatures in the northern Swiss city of Basel hit 38 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the highest since June, surpassing the country’s previous June record that dates back to 1947, as an intense heat wave continued to sweep across much of Western Europe.According to MeteoSwiss, the record-breaking temperature was measured at the Basel weather station, where the highest June temperature of 36.9°C was recorded nearly eighty years ago. The agency said temperatures in Switzerland exceeded 37°C for the first time on record in June and warned that the heat wave was expected to last until Monday.“Swiss temperatures exceeded 37°C for the first time in June, breaking the previous record set in 1947,” MeteoSuisse said on X.It added that “a temperature of 38°C was even recorded at the Basel weather station” which recorded the earlier record.Switzerland has placed much of the country on its highest heatwave alert level. The situation was particularly severe in the north, with at least five weather stations recording temperatures above 37°C on Thursday, according to MeteoSwiss.
Europe grapples with intensifying heatwaves
The extreme temperatures come amid a wider heatwave affecting much of western Europe, with some countries raising weather alerts and health and infrastructure risk warnings.The UK, France, Spain, Germany and parts of Italy have all raised their alert levels, while meteorologists predict extreme temperatures will continue into the weekend and next week.France is one of the countries most affected by the current hot weather. The country recently experienced its hottest spring since records began in 1900, with forecasters warning that temperatures in Paris could exceed 40°C for the first time in June. French authorities also reported the deaths of at least 40 people due to drownings at unsupervised swimming spots during the hot weather.In Germany, forecasters warned of possible thunderstorms, hail and heavy rainfall over the weekend, while Spain’s civil protection agency warned that a prolonged period of extreme heat would affect much of the country and the Balearic Islands from Sunday.The Met Office said there was a 40% chance the country’s June temperature record, set in 1976, would be broken. Meteorologists have confirmed that England and Wales have experienced their hottest spring on record.
