Eiffel Tower expands in heat wave, struck by lightning during storm

The Eiffel Tower experienced two notable events during Europe's extreme heat wave: thermal expansion caused it to grow by 10 centimeters, and later a lightning strike hit the monument during a sudden storm Source: Clarin; La Voz.

Heat expansion

During the record-breaking heat wave that affected over 191 million Europeans, the iron structure of the Eiffel Tower expanded due to thermal dilation. According to its official website, the monument can gain or lose a few centimeters throughout the year; this time it increased by 10 cm Source: Clarin.

Lightning strike

On the evening of June 27, after days of temperatures above 35 °C, a violent thunderstorm swept through Paris. A lightning bolt struck the top of the Eiffel Tower, an event captured on video by French photographer Sylvain Leser Source: Diario Libre; La Vanguardia. The strike caused no damage thanks to the tower's lightning rod system Source: Diario Libre. The storm also disrupted the Top 14 rugby final for about 10 minutes Source: La Voz.