Summer 2024 is the hottest on record in Western Europe

According to a report published by the Copernicus Climate Change Services, this season has become the warmest on record in Western Europe, surpassing the summer of 2003. The average temperature reached 21.7°C (71F), 2.5°C above the average for the period 1991-2020. Across the continent, from Portugal to Ukraine and from Greece to Sweden, it was the third hottest summer on record.

Heat and drought

“The consequences have extended far beyond temperature records, affecting water availability, energy systems, transport, ecosystems and human health,” said Samantha Burgess, a climate scientist at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. “As the climate continues to warm, events like these highlight the importance of strengthening resilience to increasingly interconnected climate risks.” The combination of extreme heat, drought and wildfires has proven particularly damaging. According to the report, sea surface temperatures in Europe reached record levels this summer, while the continent's rivers recorded their lowest summer flows in 30 years. The heat and widespread drought contributed to the rapid spread of the fires.

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Thermal stress

Heat stress, an indicator of how different thermal environments affect the human body, exposing people to serious health risks including heat stroke, was widespread across Europe, as 52% of the continent experienced conditions at or above “very severe” by the end of the season, corresponding to perceived temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius or higher.