Heatwave in Europe: Swiss hospitals treat more heat patients, Spain records hottest June days since 1950

In the Swiss canton of Valais, the weather station in Visp recorded an all-time June record of 36.3 degrees on Thursday. This exceeded the previous highest mark for June in this measurement series. At several other locations in Switzerland, the thermometer also climbed above the 35-degree mark, according to data from the SRF heat tracker.

Switzerland: All-Time June Record in Visp

The situation in Spain is particularly drastic. As shown in the same news ticker, the country recorded the hottest June days since comparable measurements began in 1950. On Monday, maximum temperatures of 45.1 degrees were recorded in Andalusia. This clearly exceeded the previous record mark, which meteorologists classify as exceptional.

Authorities are responding to the extreme weather with various measures. In Dübendorf, according to SRF, a "light heat break" («Hitzefrei light») was introduced for Thursday and Friday. This is intended to protect particularly vulnerable population groups, especially older people and children, from the health consequences of the heat. In France, the situation is also escalating according to the reports.

Infrastructure is also increasingly showing vulnerability to the extreme temperatures. As shown in the SRF overview, the railway in western France partially suspended service due to the heat. Rails can expand at high temperatures, endangering the safety of train operations. In Switzerland, the regulatory authority is also considering shutting down the Beznau nuclear power plant on Friday, as water temperatures for cooling could be too high.

Infrastructure Under Pressure

The Hamburg Half Marathon, planned for the coming weekend, was cancelled due to the expected strain on runners. The organizers responded to the persistent warmth, which would have meant an increased health risk for participants. Swiss glaciers are also continuing to suffer from the heat according to SRF, which is likely to have long-term effects on water supply and tourism.

At the international level, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is also raising the alarm. According to the cited WHO figures, around 500,000 people worldwide die each year from the consequences of heat. The WHO has pointed out for years that heatwaves are among the deadliest weather events and that older people, the chronically ill, and infants are particularly at risk. The current temperatures in Europe show, according to experts, that such warnings remain justified.

Economy Responds to Geopolitical Situation

Parallel to the heatwave, a possible cooling of the geopolitical situation is providing cautious optimism in the economy. IHS economist Klaus Weyerstraß stated with a view to the situation in the Persian Gulf: «Zurzeit sieht es so aus, dass es zu einer Beruhigung am Persischen Golf kommt». According to the economic research institute, this assessment could have a positive effect on energy prices, which had recently risen significantly because of the Iran war.

Wifo economist Stefan Ederer forecast: «Der Iran-Krieg bremst Österreichs Wirtschaft nur kurz aus, sinkende Energiepreise sorgen ab der zweiten Hälfte 2026 für neuen konjunkturellen Schwung». This suggests that, according to experts, the economic consequences of the conflict could remain limited.

Holger Bonin, Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), also expressed relief: «Österreichs Wirtschaft und die Bürger sind noch einmal davongekommen». However, he pointed out that geopolitical risks overall remained high and called for structural reforms in the areas of health, education, energy, and public administration. «Die jüngste Krise bringt uns in Erinnerung, dass es keine gute Praxis ist, Dinge so auf Kante zu trimmen, dass man gerade noch einmal so durchkommt», Bonin appealed according to the IHS report.

Inflation and Labor Market in Austria

Inflation in Austria remains elevated according to the economic research institutes' forecasts. For 2026, Wifo and IHS expect inflation of 3.2 and 3.0 percent respectively, while for 2027 a decline to 2.4 percent (Wifo) or 2.3 percent (IHS) is expected. IHS economist Klaus Weyerstraß explained: «Klarerweise war dieser Inflationsschub primär auf den Energiepreisschub zurückzuführen». According to him, service prices had risen by 4.4 percent in May.

On the labor market, the institutes expect robust development despite the economic burdens. «Der Arbeitsmarkt bleibt insgesamt robust», said Weyerstraß. IHS expects an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent for 2026 and a decline to 7.3 percent for 2027. The number of unemployed is likely to rise slightly in 2026 before declining in 2027 for the first time in four years.

The economy itself is forecast to grow by 0.8 percent (IHS) or 0.9 percent (Wifo) this year. In the second and third quarters of 2026, however, IHS still expects economic output to stagnate. The economic research institutes assume that the production and transport of crude oil and natural gas will gradually normalize from the second half of 2026, which should push energy prices down again.

The European Central Bank (ECB), according to Weyerstraß, had no choice but to raise key interest rates. «Die Europäische Zentralbank war gezwungen, die Leitzinsen zu erhöhen, und das spiegelt sich auch in höheren langfristigen Zinsen wider», he said. The higher interest rates are also affecting housing construction according to the data: the number of building permits was recently 45 percent below the 2019 level.

Outlook and Further Developments

In Switzerland, the persistent heat is unlikely to bring any relief for the time being. The SRF heat tracker shows continued high temperatures for the coming days. Observers expect hospitals to continue to face increased heat-related complaints. Authorities are urging the population to drink sufficient fluids, avoid heavy physical exertion during midday hours, and support older neighbors and relatives.

The situation in Spain remains tense in the meantime. Spanish weather services have issued the highest level warnings for several regions. Schools and public facilities have been partially closed. Authorities have set up additional cooling rooms to protect the population from the extreme temperatures. The tourism sector is also affected, as numerous sights are only accessible to a limited extent.

Overall, according to climate experts, the current weather situation once again shows that extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent in Europe. The June 2026 heatwave thus joins a series of record-breaking temperature events observed worldwide in recent years. Researchers see a clear connection to man-made climate change.

For the coming days, meteorologists expect a slight cooling in parts of Central Europe, while the heat is forecast to persist in Southern Europe. Swiss authorities announced that they will continue to monitor the situation closely and take additional protective measures if necessary. The WHO has once again called on member states to develop and implement national heat protection plans in order to better protect the population from the consequences of extreme temperatures.