Key facts
- Europe's summer was the hottest on record, with over half the continent experiencing extreme heat stress.
- Surface air temperatures in western Europe were 2.5C above the decadal average from June to August.
- At least 60% of western Europe had over 17 days with temperatures above 30C.
- The intense heat led to tens of thousands of heat-related deaths and ruined harvests.
- European sea surface temperatures and fire weather conditions broke records.
- Wildfires burned 680,000 hectares by the end of September, the third-worst on record.
Europe endured its hottest summer on record, with over half the continent experiencing extreme heat stress, according to an update from the EU’s Copernicus climate monitoring service. Surface air temperatures in western Europe from June to August were 2.5C above the recent decadal average, while milder but still deadly heat across the rest of the continent made the summer Europe’s third hottest on record. The intense heat, which began with an unusually early heatwave in late May and continued through September, was attributed to fossil fuel pollution clogging the atmosphere, compounded by a swelling El Niño of unprecedented strength. This natural sea warming pattern is raising global temperatures and is expected to cause almost half a million extra heat-related deaths worldwide by February. At least 60% of western Europe suffered through temperatures above 30C on 17 days this summer, a significant increase compared to previous heat-marked years. The high heat led to a record-breaking 13 days of “very strong” heat stress across western Europe. The consequences extended beyond temperature records, affecting water availability, energy systems, transport, ecosystems, and human health, according to Samantha Burgess, a climate scientist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Compounding extremes of heat, drought, and fire proved particularly damaging. European sea surface temperatures also broke records, while the continent’s rivers experienced their lowest summer flows in more than 30 years. The severity of fire weather conditions was the worst scientists have ever recorded, with 680,000 hectares burned by the end of September, making it the third-worst on record. Smoke from these fires spewed 30% more fine particulate matter into the air than the average over the last two decades. Xavier Rodó, who leads the climate and health programme at ISGlobal, stated that the surge in extreme weather events indicates unprecedented changes in the European climate. Doctors and climate scientists have urged governments to cease burning fossil fuels, shade buildings, green cities, and install air conditioning in critical facilities.