A deadly heatwave is sweeping Western and Central Europe, killing at least 18 people in France and pushing temperatures to record levels across Spain and the UK — but Cyprus is escaping the worst of it, with conditions on the island remaining close to seasonal norms.
At least 18 people have died in France, including two children, as temperatures in parts of the country exceeded 44°C. The UK’s Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning, with temperatures expected to hit 39°C — which would break the country’s June record. Spain placed 13 of its 17 regions on orange alert, with parts of the country already reaching 40°C, according to reports from Météo-France, the Met Office, and Spanish weather agency AEMET.
Andreas Chrysanthou, an officer at the Department of Meteorology, said on Wednesday that the heatwave was hitting Spain and France hardest, with temperatures also running well above normal in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and southern England.
The heat is being driven by warm air masses originating mainly from Africa, trapped near the surface by prolonged high pressure over Western Europe, he said. The extreme temperatures are expected to persist at least until Saturday before the pattern begins to ease.
Cyprus is not being affected to the same degree. Chrysanthou said the situation in Western Europe was actually generating a low-pressure wedge from the north, channelling cooler air masses towards the island.
“We will have a temporary rise of around one to two days, but nothing extreme in our area for the time being,” he said, adding that Cyprus was holding at near-normal levels for the season.
The low-pressure system could bring rainfall to the island’s mountain areas from Friday through Sunday, he said. Asked about the risk of thunderstorms, Chrysanthou said a combination of low pressure, high temperatures, and increased humidity could create atmospheric instability and trigger summer showers or storms.
He ruled out any direct link between the heatwave and El Niño, saying the phenomenon affecting Europe was related to Atlantic Ocean pressure patterns. Any effects of El Niño on Europe were not immediate and might only become apparent over time, he said.
Chrysanthou added that similar episodes could recur during the summer, noting that a heat dome had been recorded over Western and Central Europe in August 2025.
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