Europe Heat Turns Deadly

An early, deadly heat wave is gripping Europe, with France facing some of the most severe conditions and recording its hottest day ever on Tuesday. French officials reported at least 40 drowning deaths since June 18 as residents, many of them young people, sought relief in lakes, canals and other unsupervised swimming areas; some reports put France’s broader heat-related toll at 45. Authorities issued red alerts, closed schools, canceled public events and warned that temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit could break or surpass long-standing records. Scientists say Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, remains dangerously underprepared for more frequent and intense heat extremes, raising concerns beyond the region about whether similar conditions could soon affect the United States.