According to data from the European observation center Copernicus, Western Europe recorded its hottest summer in history in 2026. This season was characterized by prolonged heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and exceptionally low water levels in the continent's major rivers.
Considering the entire continent, it was the third hottest summer since the start of the record-keeping period. In Western Europe, the average temperature from June to August reached 21.7°C, which is 2.5°C higher than the average for the 1991–2020 period, surpassing the previous record set in 2003. The heat spread over a larger area and lasted longer. During 2026, there were 17 days when temperatures exceeded 30°C in 60% of Western Europe, compared to 11 days in 2003 and seven days in 2025.
In addition to air temperature, data collection showed the strong impact of the heat on the human body. By the end of the summer, 52% of the European population faced conditions of thermal stress classified as 'very strong,' associated with a perceived temperature of 38°C or higher. In Western Europe, an average of 41 days of severe thermal stress were recorded, a record for the region and five days more than in 2003. The number of episodes classified as very strong reached 13 days, also the highest figure.
Samantha Burgess, Head of Climate Strategy at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which is responsible for the Copernicus climate service, stated: 'Europe experienced a summer marked by a combination of extreme climatic events in 2026.' According to her, the record heat coincided with widespread drought conditions, exceptionally low river levels, and very warm sea water, leading to consequences for water availability, energy production, transport, ecosystems, and human health.
Rivers had lower discharge than in over 30 years
The prolonged drought also left its mark on European rivers. According to Copernicus, in 2026, the continent experienced the summer with the lowest water discharge since the beginning of the historical observation series starting in 1992. Simultaneously, record or near-record low levels were recorded in major rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Po, Loire, Rhône, and Seine, especially in July and August. This decline affected freight transport and increased the strain on irrigation, hydropower, water supply, and nuclear reactor cooling systems.
Dry conditions combined with successive heatwaves contributed to the occurrence of wildfires. By September 2, the area burned in the European Union was almost double the average for the 2006–2025 period for the same time, according to the European Wildfire Information System. Spain and France were among the hardest-hit countries. Data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service also shows that fire emissions in Europe entered the top ten since 2003, exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution.
European seas also experienced exceptional heat
In addition, the heat reached the seas around the continent. Record or near-record sea surface temperatures were recorded during the summer across most of the Atlantic coast of Europe, as well as in the western and central Mediterranean Sea. These unusually warm waters were accompanied by strong or exceptional marine heatwaves—prolonged periods when ocean temperatures remain significantly above normal.
According to Copernicus, warmer seas hinder nighttime cooling and increase humidity near the coast, which can exacerbate the thermal stress faced by the population. In Burgess's opinion, the combination observed this summer demonstrates how different extreme phenomena can occur simultaneously and amplify their consequences. She emphasized: 'As the climate continues to warm, such events strengthen the importance of building resilience in the face of increasingly interconnected climate risks.'