Switzerland recorded its hottest June temperature ever on Thursday, as thermometers in the northern city of Basel reached 38C, surpassing the national June record set since 1947, as extreme heat continued across much of Western Europe.The record-breaking temperature was measured at the Basel weather station, where the highest temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in June almost eight decades ago, according to Swiss weather service Meteosuisse. The agency said temperatures in Switzerland exceeded 37 degrees Celsius during June for the first time on record and warned that the heat wave was expected to continue until Monday.“The temperature in Switzerland exceeded 37 degrees Celsius for the first time in the month of June, breaking the record set in 1947,” Meteosuis said on X.It added that “a temperature of 38 °C was also recorded at the Basel weather station” where the earlier record was set.Switzerland has placed much of the country under its highest heatwave warning level. Conditions were particularly severe in northern regions, where at least five other weather stations recorded temperatures above 37°C on Thursday, according to MeteoSuisse data.
Europe is struggling with extreme heat
The extreme temperatures come amid a widespread heatwave affecting much of Western Europe, with several countries issuing weather warnings of risks to health and infrastructure.Britain, France, Spain, Germany and parts of Italy have raised alert levels, with meteorologists predicting extreme temperatures to continue over the weekend and into next week.France is one of the countries most affected by the current wave of hot weather. The country recently experienced its hottest spring since records began in 1900, and forecasters warned that temperatures in Paris could exceed 40 degrees Celsius for the first time during June. French authorities have also reported at least 40 deaths linked to drowning incidents at unsupervised swimming spots during the hot season.In Germany, forecasters warned of possible storms, hail and heavy rain over the weekend, while Spain’s civil protection agency warned that a prolonged period of extreme heat would hit much of the country and the Balearic Islands from Sunday.Britain’s Met Office said there was a 40 percent chance the country’s June temperature record set in 1976 could be broken. Meteorologists have already confirmed that England and Wales have experienced their warmest spring since records began.