Western Europe records hottest summer on record in 2026 as heat stress hits over half the continent
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9 days · 4 summary articles
Western Europe recorded its hottest summer on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 21.7°C (71°F), 2.5°C above the 1991–2020 average, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate service. The season surpassed the previous record set in 2003, with 17 days seeing at least 60% of the region exceed 30°C, compared to 11 days in 2003 and 7 in 2025 .
A record 52% of Europe faced “very strong” heat stress—defined as a feels-like temperature above 38°C—while 80% endured “strong” heat stress above 32°C, Copernicus reported. The service linked the extreme conditions to climate change, noting Europe is the fastest-warming continent globally .
River levels across the continent, including the Rhine and Danube, fell to their lowest since 1992, disrupting transport and energy production. Samantha Burgess, climate lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which operates Copernicus, said the summer featured overlapping extremes: heatwaves, drought, low water levels, and unusually warm seas .
Four of Europe’s 10 most intense heatwaves occurred this summer, particularly in France, the UK, and Belgium, though the 2003 heatwave remains the most severe when combining duration and intensity . The EU’s climate monitor attributed tens of thousands of excess deaths to the heat .
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