Satellite captures cloudless Europe: Deadly heatwave to hit France, Spain again
With the writing on the wall about yet another episode of searing heat, residents of Europe will have no time to recover from the record-breaking June heatwaves.
A satellite image has revealed vast stretches of western and southern Europe almost completely free of clouds.
The view of the almost entirely cloudless region is a warning sign for another spell of intense and potentially dangerous heat set to grip the continent this week, with France and Spain expected to bear the brunt.
Captured by the Meteosat Third Generation satellite on the morning of July 8, the image shows uninterrupted clear skies stretching across much of France, Spain and neighbouring regions.
The view from nearly 36,000 kilometres above Earth, highlighted sunny and hot conditions across France, Spain, southern England and the western Mediterranean.
Apart from patches of morning fog along parts of the Atlantic coast, cloud cover is almost entirely absent.
With the writing on the wall about yet another episode of searing heat, residents of Europe will have no time to recover from the record-breaking June heatwaves.
EUROPE'S RECORD-BREAKING JUNE HEATWAVES
The latest heatwave will follow one of Europe's most extreme starts to summer on record.
June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in western Europe, with average temperatures more than 3°C above normal.
Several countries also smashed their previous temperature records, many by an exceptional 2-3°C margin.
Germany recorded 41.7°C, the Czech Republic reached around 41.9°C, Poland touched 40.5°C, while parts of France neared 44°C. In Spain, temperatures climbed above 45°C in some locations.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) described the event as "extraordinary."
By early July, more than 5,600 excess deaths had been linked to the heatwave across Europe.
France alone reported thousands of excess deaths, while scientists from the World Weather Attribution concluded that human-driven climate change had significantly intensified the event.
ANOTHER EUROPEAN HEATWAVE INCOMING
The cloud-free conditions over western and southern Europe are expected to allow uninterrupted sunshine, pushing temperatures even higher over the coming days.
Forecasts suggest parts of Spain could once again approach 43-44°C, while parts of France may see temperatures climbing into the low-to-mid 40s.
Meteorologists say a heat dome, which is a large high-pressure system that traps hot air close to the ground, is once again driving the extreme weather, much like it did during Europe's record-breaking heatwave in June.
The latest satellite image is a worrying reminder that prolonged heatwaves are becoming increasingly common across Europe.
As France and Spain prepare for another sweltering week, officials are also warning of rising electricity demand for cooling and an elevated risk of wildfires in already parched landscapes.
A satellite image has revealed vast stretches of western and southern Europe almost completely free of clouds.
The view of the almost entirely cloudless region is a warning sign for another spell of intense and potentially dangerous heat set to grip the continent this week, with France and Spain expected to bear the brunt.
Captured by the Meteosat Third Generation satellite on the morning of July 8, the image shows uninterrupted clear skies stretching across much of France, Spain and neighbouring regions.
The view from nearly 36,000 kilometres above Earth, highlighted sunny and hot conditions across France, Spain, southern England and the western Mediterranean.
Apart from patches of morning fog along parts of the Atlantic coast, cloud cover is almost entirely absent.
With the writing on the wall about yet another episode of searing heat, residents of Europe will have no time to recover from the record-breaking June heatwaves.
EUROPE'S RECORD-BREAKING JUNE HEATWAVES
The latest heatwave will follow one of Europe's most extreme starts to summer on record.
June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in western Europe, with average temperatures more than 3°C above normal.
Several countries also smashed their previous temperature records, many by an exceptional 2-3°C margin.
Germany recorded 41.7°C, the Czech Republic reached around 41.9°C, Poland touched 40.5°C, while parts of France neared 44°C. In Spain, temperatures climbed above 45°C in some locations.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) described the event as "extraordinary."
By early July, more than 5,600 excess deaths had been linked to the heatwave across Europe.
France alone reported thousands of excess deaths, while scientists from the World Weather Attribution concluded that human-driven climate change had significantly intensified the event.
ANOTHER EUROPEAN HEATWAVE INCOMING
The cloud-free conditions over western and southern Europe are expected to allow uninterrupted sunshine, pushing temperatures even higher over the coming days.
Forecasts suggest parts of Spain could once again approach 43-44°C, while parts of France may see temperatures climbing into the low-to-mid 40s.
Meteorologists say a heat dome, which is a large high-pressure system that traps hot air close to the ground, is once again driving the extreme weather, much like it did during Europe's record-breaking heatwave in June.
The latest satellite image is a worrying reminder that prolonged heatwaves are becoming increasingly common across Europe.
As France and Spain prepare for another sweltering week, officials are also warning of rising electricity demand for cooling and an elevated risk of wildfires in already parched landscapes.
