Western Europe records hottest summer on record as heat stress, drought and wildfires surge

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9 days · 5 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 where at least 60% of the region exceeded 30°C, compared to 11 days in 2003 and 7 in 2025 .
A record 52% of Europe faced “very strong” heat stress, defined as feels-like temperatures above 38°C, while 80% endured “strong” heat stress (feels-like >32°C), Copernicus reported. The continent experienced its third-warmest summer overall, with western Europe setting national temperature records .
Samantha Burgess, climate lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which operates Copernicus, noted the heat’s intensity and geographical extent were remarkable. Four of Europe’s top 10 heatwaves occurred this summer, though the 2003 event remains the most severe by combined duration and intensity .
The extreme conditions triggered widespread drought, with river flows—including the Rhine, Danube, and Seine—hitting their lowest levels since 1992, disrupting transport, energy production, and freshwater supplies. Wildfires also surged, with burned areas in the EU nearly double the 2006–2025 average by early September, particularly in Spain and France .
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