Europe heatwave: Half the continent faced extreme heat stress this summer, scientists say

A staggering 52% of Europe experienced extreme heat stress during the scorching summer of 2026, according to the EU's climate monitoring body, Copernicus. This unprecedented heat was primarily driven by human-induced climate change, resulting in a series of relentless heatwaves that began early in the spring. The heatwave was characterized by its intensity and widespread geographical coverage, making it the continent's third warmest summer on record and the hottest for western Europe.

Temperatures soared to record highs in several countries, with August 2003 still holding the title of the most severe heatwave ever recorded.

The summer witnessed 52% of Europe exposed to severe heat stress - a condition where temperatures felt hotter than 38C. Around 80% of the continent faced strong heat stress, with feels-like temperatures exceeding 32C on a record 41 days by the end of the season. Heat stress, caused by the body's cooling systems being overwhelmed, can lead to symptoms ranging from dizziness and headaches to organ failure and death. It is the leading cause of weather-related mortality globally.

The summer also brought devastating dry conditions, the lowest river flows since 1992 records began. This disrupted freight transport, strained irrigation, nuclear reactor cooling, and hydropower production. Drought conditions have been on the rise over the last 45 years in Europe, affecting almost half of the continent by the end of August. In total, the summer heatwaves claimed more than 30,000 excess lives in Europe, a concerning surge linked to the rise in global temperatures.