Europe's Heat Wave Breaks Records as Infrastructure Faces Its First Real Test

Germany reached 41.3°C on June 27, joining France, Britain, Italy, and Switzerland in shattering national heat records within days. Western Europe's average daily temperature hit 24.9°C on June 30—a new June peak. Power grid failures preceded peak summer demand in France. Schools and attractions shuttered across the region. The cascade tests whether infrastructure designed for cooler decades can hold through the remainder of summer.