‘Hotter and hotter and hotter’ – Europe’s new climate in seven charts
Hotter and Hotter and Hotter – Europe's Shifting Climate in Seven Charts
Hotter and hotter and hotter - As summer unfolds, Europe is grappling with an increasingly intense climate, exemplified by two extreme heatwaves in July that have already set the stage for a warmer future. These events, which have broken and surpassed previous records, highlight how the region is experiencing unprecedented temperature spikes. The UN's weather agency described June's heat as "extraordinary," underscoring its severity across the continent.
Prof Stephen Belcher, chief scientist at the UK Met Office, emphasized that human-driven climate change has heightened the likelihood and intensity of such heat events. "Events like this are more probable and more severe in our warming world," he stated. The June heatwave's impact was stark, with temperatures soaring far above historical averages. Red markers in the data illustrate how drastically the UK's temperatures exceeded normal levels during these months.
"To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering," said Belcher. "Even long-standing weather stations saw records broken by 2C or more, which is unusually significant compared to typical small variations."
June's heat was particularly harsh in southern England and south Wales, yet no area was untouched. Lingwood, Norfolk, reached a provisional peak of 37.7C, surpassing the UK's prior June record of 35.6C, set in 1957 and matched in 1976. Nighttime temperatures in Cardiff failed to dip below 23.5C on the night of June 24–25, marking the warmest June night in the UK's history.
High humidity during the June heatwave amplified its effects, making it harder for bodies to cool through perspiration. Persistent warmth even after sunset further disrupted recovery, as cooler nights are crucial for regulating body temperatures. The phenomenon of tropical nights—where temperatures stay above 20C—became widespread, a rarity in the UK's historical climate.
European Heatwave: A Continental Record Breaker
The same "heat dome" system that scorched the UK also triggered extreme heat across much of Europe. In Germany, the weather service Deutscher Wetterdienst called it "a heatwave for the history books," while Météo-France in France termed it "exceptional" and "historic." Over a dozen countries in western, central, and eastern Europe shattered their June temperature records, with some new highs differing from old ones by up to three degrees.
"Compared to historical measurements, this was obviously very unusual," noted Sonia Seneviratne, a professor at ETH Zurich. "The Alpine nation recorded 39C, surpassing its previous June record by more than 2C. While I wasn't surprised by this, it's a clear sign of a warming climate."
Europe's rapid warming is partly due to the loss of reflective snow and ice, along with reduced atmospheric particles. These changes allow more solar energy to heat the surface, contributing to frequent and stronger heat extremes. As global temperatures rise, regions like Europe are experiencing these shifts more acutely, with summer heatwaves becoming a new norm.