Climate News
From Sindh to France: a week of 50C in South Asia and record days across Europe
Extreme heat has gripped both South Asia and Europe in the last days of June. Pakistan's Express Tribune reported that Sukkur and Dadu in Sindh hit 50C, with the meteorological department warning that parts of the province could reach 51C. It noted that Churu in Rajasthan, India, recorded 50.3C on 14 June, and that southern Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Saudi Arabia approached or passed 50C.
In Europe, the same report said France set its hottest day on record on 24 June, with a national average of 30C and a record 58 departments on red alert, while Spain recorded its hottest June days on 23 and 24 June. Germany and Switzerland issued heat alerts. GeoSphere Austria, the country's weather service, described the end of June as "one of the most extreme heatwaves in recent history" for large parts of Europe and attributed it to a "heat dome". Earlier in the month, Pakistan's Punjab PDMA had forecast 44–48C in Lahore, Multan and Bahawalpur from 8 to 11 June.
"Heatwaves are no longer the exception – they are part of our new climatic reality." — GeoSphere Austria
How each outlet framed it
- The Express Tribune — one global heat story, from Sindh and Rajasthan to the Gulf and France.
- GeoSphere Austria — the European science: a heat dome, tropical nights and pressure on health and infrastructure.
- Punjab PDMA — the official warning: temperatures 5–7C above normal.
What we don't know yet: the human toll. The figures above do not include deaths from this late-June heat, and official counts usually take weeks.