
9 days · 3 summary articles
Western Europe records hottest summer on record in 2026 as heat stress hits over half the continent
Western Europe records hottest summer with 52% of continent under extreme heat stress
Europe braces for late-September heat dome as 2026 summer breaks records for heat, drought and wildfires
Summer 2026 was the hottest on record in Western Europe, 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 broke the previous record set in 2003, with extreme heat beginning unusually early in May and persisting into September.
A record 52% of Europe faced “very strong” heat stress, defined as feels-like temperatures above 38°C, while 80% endured “strong” heat stress above 32°C, Copernicus reported on Friday . Western Europe saw 17 days with temperatures exceeding 30°C across at least 60% of the region, compared to 11 days in 2003 and 7 in 2025 .
The heatwaves contributed to tens of thousands of excess deaths and coincided with the lowest river flows in over 30 years, disrupting energy supply and commerce, according to Copernicus . Major rivers including the Rhine, Danube, and Po hit record lows simultaneously in July and August. Despite the extremes, EU member states continued investing in fossil fuels .
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