Summer of 2026 broke records in Europe, and caused deaths

The summer of 2026 was the warmest in Europe since records began, surpassing the 2003 record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Germany's DWD weather service reported an unprecedented number of hot days, with about 22 hot days and five very hot days, defined as temperatures of at least 30 and 35 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The estimated number of heat-related deaths by the end of August reached at least 16,300, as the temperatures exacerbated underlying health conditions. Heat-related deaths in Germany are more likely if the average weekly temperature reaches 20 degrees Celsius or more, with the average weekly temperatures rising above this threshold multiple times this year.

While the exact cause of death cannot be determined from the statistics, researchers and medical professionals understand that heat affects the human body, leading to excess mortality during heat waves. Professor Andreas Matzarakis of Freiburg University noted that factors like humidity, solar radiation, and wind, known as the "felt temperature," also contribute to heat stress.

He emphasized that vulnerable populations, such as those living in poorly insulated homes or working outdoors, were particularly at risk. Environmental scientist Martin Röösli from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute highlighted that many of those who died may have had a short life expectancy due to age and medical conditions, but some could have lived longer if not for the heat wave.

Meteorologist and epidemiologist Alexandra Schneider from the Helmholtz center in Munich suggested that the deaths were likely a result of the "harvesting effect," where a heat wave causes vulnerable individuals to die prematurely, leading to a deficit of mortality in the following weeks.