WHO Warns Europe Faces 'More Deadly Weeks' as New Heatwave Approaches

Jul 7, 2026

The World Health Organization warns that Europe faces more deadly weeks as a new heatwave forms over the Atlantic, with temperatures in Portugal and Spain expected to hit 43°C. This follows a record-breaking June 2026 heatwave that caused over 4,000 excess deaths and disrupted infrastructure. WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge urges countries to implement heat-health action plans, noting that less than half of member states currently have them in place.

New European heatwave forecast

▪The World Health Organization warned on July 7, 2026, that Europe could face more deadly weeks ahead due to a new intense heatwave forming over the Atlantic.
▪Temperatures in Portugal and southern Spain are expected to climb to 43 degrees Celsius in the days following July 7, 2026.
▪France and the Benelux region are bracing for another heat surge, while parts of Central Asia are experiencing 40 degrees Celsius heat as of July 7, 2026.

Climate change attribution

▪Scientists stated that the extreme heat in Europe during June 2026 was almost certainly driven by climate change.
▪Temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Europe during the June 2026 heatwave.

June heatwave mortality statistics

▪France, the Netherlands, and Belgium recorded approximately 3,700 preliminary excess deaths during the June 2026 heatwave.
▪Preliminary data from Western Europe indicate more than 4,000 excess deaths occurred as soaring June 2026 temperatures strained health systems.

Infrastructure disruption from heat

▪The June 20-28, 2026 heatwave in Europe overwhelmed healthcare systems.
▪The June 20-28, 2026 heatwave was the most severe recorded in Europe, causing disruption to power generation and damaging infrastructure.

WHO emergency coordination meeting

▪World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge held an emergency call on July 6, 2026, with representatives from 41 countries, the European Commission, and civil society groups.
▪World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge praised heat response initiatives including Italy's mortality surveillance system, Spain's media communication strategy, and Austria's updated heat plan.

Heat-health action plan gaps

▪Less than half of the World Health Organization's European member states had national heat-health action plans in place during the June 2026 heatwave.
▪World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge stated that care home residents, homeless people, and socially isolated older adults are still not being reached consistently across Europe.