Temperatures in various regions of Europe and China reached record highs on June 13, 2025, with thermometers surpassing 42°C in several Spanish cities and hitting 47.1°C in Xinjiang, China. These extreme conditions prompted local authorities to issue health warnings and posed significant challenges for outdoor activities, including China’s university entrance exams.
In Europe, the severe heat began earlier in the month, starting with 40.5°C recorded in Mértola, Portugal, before climbing above 42°C at multiple meteorological stations across Spain. Cities such as Córdoba, Málaga, Madrid, and Zaragoza were placed in an orange alert zone by Spain's National Meteorological Agency (AEMET). Nighttime conditions remained humid, particularly in Greece and Albania, preventing the usual evening cooling that typically brings some respite.
The epicenter of this heatwave is expected to extend to France, the Benelux countries, Italy, and western Germany, with forecasted temperatures reaching up to 38°C in Rome and 35°C in Paris. Meteorologists have warned that this heatwave ranks among the most intense in the past decade, echoing patterns from similar events in 2019 and 2022 that resulted in hundreds of deaths across Europe.
Meanwhile, in China, the Xinjiang province has experienced the most extreme temperatures: 44.8°C in Turpan and 47.1°C at the Mangxiaohu weather station. Chinese meteorological authorities issued a yellow warning for the heatwave and advised the public to take precautions against heatstroke. The peak heat coincides with the national university entrance exams, prompting exam officials to arrange special air-conditioned rooms and advance exam start times to minimize heat exposure.
This global heatwave phenomenon aligns with a report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which identified May 2025 as the second-warmest May on record, with global surface temperatures averaging 1.4°C above the pre-industrial era (1850–1900). "May 2025 ended a historic 21-month streak where global temperatures continuously exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels," said Carlo Buontempo, Director of C3S.
The impacts are increasingly evident, including rising health issues such as dehydration and heatstroke, particularly among the elderly and outdoor workers. Hospitals in Andalusia, Spain, reported a 30% increase in heat-related patients within the past week. In China, schools postponed sports activities and implemented additional rest breaks to reduce students’ heat exposure.
Local authorities are promoting mitigation efforts such as establishing cooling centers, distributing free drinking water, and advising residents to adjust working hours. AEMET emphasized that long-term solutions require urban infrastructure adaptations—including expanding green spaces and designing buildings that enhance natural ventilation—as well as accelerating greenhouse gas emission reductions to prevent further global temperature rises.
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