Europe’s heatwave ‘most severe’ ever recorded, study finds

Europe’s latest heatwave, which has brought red alerts to several countries throughout the week, is the “most severe” ever recorded in the region and was made significantly more likely and intense by fossil fuel‑driven climate change, according to a report published Friday by World Weather Attribution (WWA). The study found that temperatures would have been “virtually impossible” 50 years ago and far less likely even during previous record‑breaking heatwaves.

Record temperatures and trends

“In 1976, when some of the previous European records were set, the 2026 temperatures would have been virtually impossible to occur in June,” the report said. “In 2003, the first major heatwave of this century, daytime heat like this would still have been very rare, about 10 times less likely than today.” Nighttime temperatures recorded during this heatwave would have been more than 100 times less likely in 2003. Many European capitals experienced their hottest three‑day period in June and their hottest three‑day spell since 1950. Across large parts of Western Europe, June is warming faster than any other month.

Urgent action needed

The hottest daytime temperatures across large parts of Western Europe are now warming at around three times the global average rate, while nighttime temperatures are warming at about twice the global average. “A rapid phase‑out of fossil fuels is critical if we are to avoid even higher temperatures and their consequences in the future. Extreme heat is already reaching the limits of our societies’ ability to cope,” WWA said.