A version of this article appears in print on July 2, 2025, Section A, Page 8 of the New York edition with the headline: Europe’s Broiling Heat Wave Prompts Scores of Alerts for Tens of Millions.

Glaciers across the continent are rapidly shrinking and disappearing. A study published earlier this year showed that about 39 percent of ice in Central Europe glaciers has been lost since 2000.

A punishing heat wave loosened its grip on western Europe Wednesday and rolled eastwards, with Germany expected to record some of its hottest temperatures of the year so far.

Europe Endures Relentless Heat Wave Extreme heat has gripped countries including France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, with record temperatures, health alerts and wildfires.

But Europe hasn’t approached heat in the same way as the historically hotter United States. While nearly 90% of US homes have air conditioning, in Europe it’s around 20%, and some countries ...