Record-Breaking Heat: Europe’s Hottest Summer and Rising Temperature Trends

According to recent analyses, in 2022, twelve European countries set new monthly temperature records, contributing to the hottest summer ever recorded on the continent. Out of 27 European countries reviewed, 12 experienced their highest monthly temperature anomalies for at least one month, with deviations exceeding 1.9°C above the average temperatures recorded between 1991 and 2020.

The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that Europe had its second warmest year on record, with the summer being the hottest ever. Notably, late summer, October, and December saw the highest temperature increases.

For instance, in Austria, October 2022 was 3.3°C warmer than the average October temperatures from 1991 to 2020. France and Slovenia also reported anomalies exceeding 3°C that month, while Croatia and Greece recorded similar increases in December.

Italy experienced above-average temperatures for most of the year and set its highest monthly temperature anomalies in May, October, and December. Spain and Portugal each broke monthly temperature records on three separate occasions.

Northern and western Europe faced extended and severe heatwaves throughout the year, leading to widespread drought and the highest summer wildfire emissions in 15 years. Globally, 2022 was the fifth warmest year on record, with the past eight years collectively being the warmest. The global average temperature in 2022 was 1.2°C higher than the 1850-1900 baseline.

While La Niña conditions led to cooler temperatures in the Pacific region, the northern hemisphere, especially the Arctic and Europe, experienced significant warming.

Europe’s temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average, and the Arctic’s rate is four times faster. Samantha Burgess from C3S highlighted the urgency of addressing this trend to mitigate increasingly extreme weather events and their impacts on people and ecosystems.

Experts, including Professor Hannah Cloke and Bob Ward, emphasize the need for urgent adaptation to these changing conditions, as rising temperatures exacerbate droughts, heatwaves, and other extreme weather events.