Last month, I arrived in France just in time for a massive heat wave. It was relentless and produced some of the most extreme temperatures ever experienced in France during the month of May, which historically tended to be relatively mild. But last month was the hottest month of May on record in both France as well as Great Britain.
Now, Europe has been experiencing some of the worst heat ever recorded in recent weeks. It is the hottest month of June on record in much of Europe. Record hot temperatures were experienced in Great Britain, in France, Spain, and now, Germany.
Days ago, temperatures reached 43.8°C (110.8°F) in one town in western France (Palluau), which is the highest temperature ever recorded in France. To put that into perspective, that record is hotter than the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida, which is 42.7°C (109°F).
While it was not Paris which set the record hot temperature, it did reach a scorching June record of 40.9 C last Wednesday. All of this is not normal for France, which historically was known as a country with relatively mild weather and temperatures. I talked to my cousin in France, and she said that the conditions were unbearable. We are all concerned for older relatives.
Nor is it relegated to France. Yesterday, Germany experienced temperatures of 41.7°C (107.06°F) in Coschen, in eastern Germany, near the Polish border.
Indeed, record hot temperatures were set across Europe. On top of record heat recorded in France and Germany, other countries also saw new record hot temperatures as well, according to a BBC article by Neil Murphy (see link below):
The Czech Republic set its second temperature record in two days, recording 41.1C at Doksany, north of Prague, the meteorological institute CHMI said.
Poland also broke its all-time temperature record with 40.5C in the town of Slubice, a spokeswoman for the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) told the AFP news agency on Sunday.
All of that means that this heatwave is the most intense heatwave which western Europe has ever recorded.
Here is a snippet from a CBC article by Thomson Reuters from June 26th (see link below):
Scientists said the heat wave, which began on June 20, was the worst ever recorded in Europe, where the climate is changing faster than anywhere else on the planet.
There were melting road surface issues in France and Germany, where parts of a major highway buckled under the intense heat. Record heat were widespread in parts of Europe. My girlfriend is in Poland right now, where the heatwave was slow to arrive. But it is there now and, like my cousin, she says that it is unbearable.
Unfortunately, she will be arriving back here in northeastern North America just in time for a massive heatwave here. Temperatures and conditions are supposed to be scoring from as far west as Kansas to much of the eastern seaboard. Like with Europe, this is supposed to be a dangerous heat. Like with Europe, there is a distinct possibility of new heat records being set.
That on top of the record droughts being experienced across much of the United States.
Sorry, but none of this feels normal.
Luckily, we have the solution in this country. We elected a man who claims not to believe in climate change, dismissing it a Chinese hoax. Dear Leader has pulled us out of the Paris Accord and even censored any mention of climate change, here in this country where we are supposed to have freedom of speech.
What a guy.
And what a solution to what sure seems to be a problem.
I'm sure everyone suffering under sweltering conditions and water restrictions will at least be pleased not to be reminded about the possibility that all of this might have something to do with climate change. I guess that's one way to solve a problem, is never to ever allow it to be mentioned or discussed. Then again, that has always been Trump's solution to things. Problem? What problem? Things are wonderful, they are great. They have never been better! Even if it sure looks like the country is going to hell in a hurry, we get to hear him bragging about the wonderful job that he is doing and all of those massive vanity projects that he is building in his own honor.
Again, what a guy.
But here is some good news: a scientist fired because of Trump has launched a website with all of the date which Trump's censorship was supposed to make inaccessible.
That's the funny thing about making a point of making enemies everywhere: they seem determined to get you back at some point or another. And I for one am glad that this website is now running, and with apparently full data, despite Trump's best efforts to sweep all of this under the rug.
Because frankly, this is becoming a real problem, one that is glaringly obvious and monstrous. And it's not because some idiot on top wants it censored that this will be going away.
Below are the links to the articles which I used in writing this blog entry, and from which I obtained all of the specific information and/or quotes used above:
Ex-NOAA employees re-create a valuable climate data site shut down by Trump June 26, 20265:00 AM ET By Scott Neuman
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/26/nx-s1-5869615/climate-noaa-data-trump-doge
Ex-NOAA employees re-create a climate data site shut down by Trump : NPR
Government Scientists Fired by Trump Launch New Website for Sharing Climate Data "Trusted climate information should not disappear when politics change." By Joe Wilkins Published Jun 25, 2026 11:
https://futurism.com/science-energy/government-scientists-noaa-trump-climate-data
Government Scientists Fired by Trump Launch New Website for Sharing Climate Data
Europe's heatwave linked to 1,300 deaths, WHO says, as Germany hits record 41.7C by Neil Murphy, June 28, 2026:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4d2vv935lo
Europe's heatwave 'linked to 1,300 deaths' as more records broken
Paris hit a June record of 40.9 C on Wednesday. There have been at least 55 deaths linked to the heat wave in France, and even though temperatures were expected to ease, authorities braced for more casualties.
France hits record 43.8°C as deadly heatwave grips Europe published by MSN.com, June 27, 2026:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/france-hits-record-43-8-c-as-deadly-heatwave-grips-europe/gm-GM2CD14056?gemSnapshotKey=GM2CD14056-snapshot-1&ocid=sapphireappshare
France hits record 43.8°C as deadly heatwave grips Europe
Europe on high alert as killer heat spreads, prompting alcohol ban and Pride parade delay in France Paris Pride March organizers rescheduled event after police asked to cancel major events amid heat wave Thomson Reuters · Posted: Jun 26, 2026:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/europe-heat-wave-omega-alcohol-ban-pride-parade-france-9.7249778
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