A severe heat wave has engulfed Europe, breaking temperature records and claiming lives. Western Europe has experienced its hottest June on record, with temperatures soaring to 46 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the average temperature for Western Europe in June was 20.49C (68.88F), surpassing the previous record for the month from 2003 by 0.06C (0.11F).
The persistent heat is attributed to a high-pressure system over Western Europe, known as a heat dome, which acts like a lid trapping hot air and preventing milder weather systems from moving through. This phenomenon creates prolonged periods of excessively high temperatures, reducing cloud cover and rainfall chances. Dr. Ben Clarke, a researcher at Imperial College London, emphasizes that “climate change has made it significantly hotter than it would have been, which in turn makes it a lot more dangerous”.
The heatwave has had devastating effects on human health, with approximately 2,300 heat-related deaths recorded in 12 European cities between June 23 and July 2. About 1,500 of these deaths were linked to climate change, which exacerbated the heatwaves. Spain’s environment ministry reported 1,180 deaths in the past two months due to high temperatures, a significant increase from the same period last year. The elderly population is particularly vulnerable, accounting for over 80% of estimated excess deaths.
Several European countries have been severely affected, including:
- Spain: Record-breaking temperatures reached 46C (118F) in some cities, with 1,180 deaths reported in the past two months.
- France: Emergency measures closed schools and the Eiffel Tower, with temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) in several regions.
- Italy: Bans on outdoor labor have been implemented in many regions, with temperatures ranging from 37 to 42C (98.6-107.6F).
- Greece: Wildfires have triggered evacuations, with temperatures reaching 43C (109.4F) in some areas.
Europe is warming at a faster rate than other continents, with temperatures increasing by 0.53C (0.95F) per decade since the mid-1990s. Human-induced warming has been rising at a rate of 0.27C per decade from 2015 to 2024, the highest observed rate in the instrumental record. The world is getting hotter, with global temperatures remaining unusually high and closely tracking 2024, the hottest year on record.