The EU's climate monitor reported that 52% of Europe faced intense heat stress during a summer marked by record temperatures and widespread drought.
Key facts
- •Four of Europe's top 10 heat waves occurred during the 2026 summer.
- •Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related mortality globally.
- •The summer saw record-breaking temperatures across several western European countries.
- •Drought affected almost 50% of Europe by the end of August.
- •Samantha Burgess of the ECMWF noted the heat was remarkable for both its intensity and geographical reach.
A record 52% of Europe was exposed to intense heat stress during the 2026 summer, according to the EU's climate monitor, Copernicus. The season was characterized by a series of heat waves that began in the spring and resulted in the continent's third-warmest summer on record, and the hottest ever for western Europe.
By the numbers
Extent of Heat Stress
Copernicus reported that 52% of the continent experienced 'very strong' heat stress, defined as conditions where temperatures feel above 38°C (100°F). Additionally, 80% of Europe faced 'strong' heat stress, with feels-like temperatures exceeding 32°C (90°F) on a record 41 days throughout the season.
Impact of Drought and Heat
The summer's dry conditions resulted in the lowest river flows since records began in 1992, which disrupted freight transport and strained irrigation, hydropower, and nuclear reactor cooling. By the end of August, drought conditions affected nearly half of the continent, continuing a trend of increasing drought over the last 45 years.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Phys.org.
