Europe is gripped by its worst-ever heatwave, with scientists declaring that such a severe event would be impossible without the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning. The World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium analysis highlights the devastating impact of global heating on extreme weather patterns across the continent.
Nearly half of Europe's 850 largest cities are facing their worst-ever heat stress, with muggy conditions rendering high temperatures even more perilous. This comes as the UK records its hottest June temperature, with 36.4C (97.5F) in Somerset, and widespread reports of increased medical emergencies, including fatalities.
The WWA's analysis reveals that a heatwave of this magnitude would have been approximately 2C cooler just 18 years ago, and 3.5C cooler during the notable heatwave year of 1976. Dr Theodore Keeping, an extreme weather research associate at Imperial College London, highlights the dramatic increase in global heating over recent decades, with the planet warming by 1.1C.
The scientists warn that without immediate action to reduce carbon pollution, future heat conditions will become even more extreme. They note that sweltering night-time temperatures are around 100 times more likely today than they were in 2003, disrupting sleep and daily life across the continent. Many capital cities are experiencing their hottest recorded three-day period in June – and at any time of year.
The WWA team used observed and forecasted temperature data to analyse the hottest three-day period across western Europe's 'heat dome'. They concluded that climate change is the primary driver behind the severity of this heat event, ruling out natural weather variability. The study unequivocally attributes the supercharged heat level to global heating rather than an unusual weather pattern.
Source: World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium