France shuts 1 350 schools, Italy limits work as severe heatwave grips southern Europe
Temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) led to the closure of over 1 350 schools in France and work restrictions across 13 Italian regions between June 30 and July 2, 2025, as a persistent heat dome caused red-level alerts and severe public health risks across southern Europe.
Image credit: Bastien NVS
Météo-France issued red alerts in 16 departments and orange alerts in 68 others as temperatures in the southern and central regions exceeded 40–41 °C (104–106 °F). In response, the Ministry of Education partially or completely closed over 1 350 schools, including large clusters in Île-de-France, Troyes, and Melun. And about 200 additional schools were shuttered in municipalities that independently suspended classes.
High temperatures forced the closure of the top of the Eiffel Tower to tourists and led to a significant increase in electricity demand.
In Italy, regional governments in at least 13 regions, including Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Campania, Calabria, Tuscany, Lombardy, Sardinia, and Sicily, issued ordinances banning outdoor labor from 12:30 to 16:00 local time (LT). These bans applied to agricultural, construction, and floricultural sectors, and remain in effect until August 31, with Lombardy’s ban extended through September 15.
The regional ordinances were based on INAIL–CNR Worklimate alerts, which classify daily risk levels based on humidity, temperature, and exposure time. Violations are subject to administrative penalties under Italy’s labor safety laws.
At least two fatalities have occurred due to the heat. A 47-year-old construction worker died near Bologna, and a 70-year-old man drowned in Piedmont during a storm linked to the heatwave. Two additional workers collapsed in Vicenza, with one remaining in critical condition. (not sure about this para)
Italian cities including Florence, Bergamo, Milan, and Rome experienced intermittent blackouts, due to excessive air conditioning usage and transformer overheating. Public transport services were disrupted, and emergency cooling shelters were established.
In Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) confirmed June 2025 as the hottest on record, with an average temperature of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F). Barcelona recorded highs above 40 °C (104 °F), while parts of southern Spain neared 46 °C (115 °F). In Portugal, Santarém reached 46.6 °C (116 °F) on June 29.
The Mediterranean Sea surface temperatures rose to 30 °C (86 °F), 3–6 °C (5-10.8 °F) above seasonal averages.
References:
1 France shuts schools, Italy limits work outdoors in ‘exceptional’ European heatwave – Reuters – July 2, 2025
2 Italy limits outdoor work as heatwave breaks records across Europe – The Guardian – July 1, 2025
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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