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Europe records third-warmest summer as extreme heat, drought, low river flows intensify – EnviroNews
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Europe experienced its third-warmest summer on record in 2026, marked by persistent heatwaves, severe dry conditions, exceptionally warm seas and the lowest summer river flows in more than three decades, according to the latest report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
The C3S, implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), said the season was characterised by a combination of climate extremes that affected large parts of the continent and created significant risks to human health, ecosystems, water supplies, energy systems and transport.
By the end of the summer, 52 per cent of Europe had experienced at least “very strong” heat-stress conditions, corresponding to feels-like temperatures of 38°C or higher.
Western Europe was particularly affected, recording its warmest summer on record, with an average temperature of 21.7°C — 2.5°C above the 1991–2020 average. The figure surpassed the previous record set in 2003.
The exceptional warmth extended beyond the traditional summer months, with record temperatures recorded in May and September. C3S said 2026 recorded 17 days when at least 60 per cent of western Europe experienced temperatures above 30°C, compared with 11 days in 2003 and seven in 2025.
Heat stress was also unusually persistent. Western Europe experienced “strong” heat stress on a record 41 days by the end of the season, five more than in 2003. Days with “very strong” heat stress reached a record 13.
Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at ECMWF, described the summer as one of “compounded climate extremes”, with record heat stress occurring alongside widespread dryness, exceptionally low river flows and unusually warm seas.
According to Burgess, the impacts went beyond temperature records, affecting water availability, energy systems, transport, ecosystems and human health.
She said the developments underscored the importance of strengthening resilience as climate change increases the risk of interconnected extreme events.
The prolonged heat and dryness also contributed to an exceptionally active wildfire season. Data from the European Forest Fire Information System showed that, by September 2, the area burned across the European Union was almost twice the 2006–2025 average for that point in the year, with Spain and France among the worst affected.
Meanwhile, data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service indicated that wildfire emissions in Europe by the end of summer were among the 10 highest recorded since 2003, exposing millions of people to potentially dangerous levels of air pollution.
The continent also experienced its most severe low-flow summer since records from the European Flood Awareness System began in 1992.
Major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Po, Loire, Rhône and Seine, recorded record or near-record low flows simultaneously during July and August.
The low water levels disrupted cargo transport and supply chains while increasing pressure on irrigation, nuclear power-plant cooling, hydropower generation and freshwater resources.
C3S noted that the developments highlighted the close connection between climate change and broader challenges such as energy security.
Europe’s seas were similarly affected, with record or near-record sea-surface temperatures recorded along much of the Atlantic coast and across the western and central Mediterranean.
The unusually warm seas were accompanied by strong to exceptional marine heatwaves — prolonged periods of unusually high ocean temperatures.
According to C3S, marine heatwaves can worsen heat conditions in coastal areas by limiting nighttime cooling and increasing humidity, thereby increasing heat stress on people.
The 2026 summer findings point to the growing significance of compound climate extremes, in which heat, drought, wildfire, water scarcity and marine heatwaves occur simultaneously or reinforce one another.
The Copernicus findings underline the need for climate-risk planning that considers the combined impacts of extreme events on health, water, ecosystems, infrastructure, energy and economic activity rather than treating each hazard in isolation.