Record heat has ‘fingerprints of climate change all over it’. What can Europe expect this summer?
Europe experienced record May temperatures in 2026, with France logging 37.1°C near Hossegor and the UK surpassing 35°C in London, as a heat dome trapped extreme heat across the continent. Experts warn climate change is intensifying heatwaves, with forecasts predicting above-average summer temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and flash floods across southern and central Europe." "article": "Europe is enduring unprecedented May heat, with France’s Météo France reporting 37.1°C near Hossegor—the highest temperature recorded in the country during the month—after over 350 weather stations broke monthly records. The UK also shattered its hottest May day for the second consecutive day, with London exceeding 35°C, while dozens of European capitals saw temperatures far above seasonal norms. London recorded anomalies of 16°C above average, Paris 14°C, Berlin 11°C, and Madrid and Lisbon 10°C each. The extreme heat is attributed to a persistent heat dome, a phenomenon increasingly linked to human-caused climate change. Friederike Otto, a climate science professor at Imperial College London, stated that such temperatures were once rare even in summer, emphasizing that climate change is making heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent. She warned that without faster emissions cuts, temperature records will continue to fall, leaving infrastructure ill-prepared for future extremes. Forecasts for summer 2026 suggest above-average temperatures across Europe, with southeastern regions most at risk. The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and ECMWF predict below-average rainfall in eastern Europe, raising concerns about droughts and wildfires. Ioanna Vergini, founder of WFY24, anticipates compound heat-and-drought conditions in the south, a wildfire arc from Portugal to Greece, and flash floods in autumn. Southern Europe remains the most vulnerable, but central and eastern regions are warming fastest and least adapted to extreme heat. Urban areas face heightened risks due to the urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt amplify temperatures. Vergini noted that cities are where heat-related deaths are most concentrated, underscoring the need for better climate resilience measures.
Europe is enduring unprecedented May heat, with France’s Météo France reporting 37.1°C near Hossegor—the highest temperature recorded in the country during the month—after over 350 weather stations broke monthly records. The UK also shattered its hottest May day for the second consecutive day, with London exceeding 35°C, while dozens of European capitals saw temperatures far above seasonal norms. London recorded anomalies of 16°C above average, Paris 14°C, Berlin 11°C, and Madrid and Lisbon 10°C each. The extreme heat is attributed to a persistent heat dome, a phenomenon increasingly linked to human-caused climate change. Friederike Otto, a climate science professor at Imperial College London, stated that such temperatures were once rare even in summer, emphasizing that climate change is making heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent. She warned that without faster emissions cuts, temperature records will continue to fall, leaving infrastructure ill-prepared for future extremes. Forecasts for summer 2026 suggest above-average temperatures across Europe, with southeastern regions most at risk. The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and ECMWF predict below-average rainfall in eastern Europe, raising concerns about droughts and wildfires. Ioanna Vergini, founder of WFY24, anticipates compound heat-and-drought conditions in the south, a wildfire arc from Portugal to Greece, and flash floods in autumn. Southern Europe remains the most vulnerable, but central and eastern regions are warming fastest and least adapted to extreme heat. Urban areas face heightened risks due to the urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt amplify temperatures. Vergini noted that cities are where heat-related deaths are most concentrated, underscoring the need for better climate resilience measures.
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