Europe heatwaves bring records, drought and wildfires

Europe's summer of 2026 has brought repeated heatwaves, record temperatures, drought, wildfires and disruption to transport and energy systems across the continent.

Heat spells have hit Europe since May, with temperatures reaching 40C and above. Slovakia recorded 42.2C and Denmark 37C, both described as new highs, while Spain and Italy also saw records broken.

By August 19, France had spent 52 days under heatwave conditions since mid-June, with only brief cooler breaks and summer not yet over.

AFP reported that a provisional toll put excess deaths across Europe between mid-June and mid-August at 32,000. France's OBESCA monitor said 2.6 million people were suffering from “eco-anxiety,” which it defines as negative emotions linked to climate change.

Wildfires had burned nearly 600,000 hectares across Europe by August 12, including fires in France and Spain that forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Belgium experienced its largest wildfire in a century, and Scotland also battled fires.

Drought affected half of Europe by the end of July. France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia reported record low soil moisture levels. In southern England, farmer John Pawsey said his entire quinoa crop failed after conditions “suddenly, completely dried out.”

Low river levels and warm water also hit infrastructure. Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary shut down or curtailed nuclear power plants because the Danube was too low to provide cooling. France and Switzerland reduced nuclear output because of high river temperatures or low water levels. In Germany, Rhine river ports shut after water levels fell.

The Mediterranean reached a July sea surface temperature of 27C. The World Weather Attribution group said some Mediterranean areas were more than 6C warmer than normal during the hottest two weeks of the month.

Jean Jouzel, a scientist and former vice-chair of the United Nations' IPCC climate panel, said the summer matched what climate scientists had predicted for decades and warned that greenhouse gas emissions curves must be bent to avoid catastrophe.