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Heat waves, which would have caused more than 60,000 deaths in the summer of 2022 according to a study published on Monday July 10, are increasing in Europe, a direct consequence of global warming.
Greenhouse gas emissions increase the intensity, duration and rate of repetition of heat waves, especially in Europe, “fastest warming region of the world”according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Reminder of the great heat waves in Europe in the 21st century:
2022: early heat and forest fires
An extreme and early heat wave hits southern and central Europe in mid-June. Temperature peaks of 43°C were recorded in France and records for the month of June were broken in Austria and Germany.
A new heat wave hits Western Europe in July, particularly in Spain and France, affected by devastating forest fires. In the United Kingdom, for the first time, the 40°C threshold has been crossed. The summer of 2022 is the hottest on record in Europe, according to the European Copernicus climate change service.
Summer 2021: Greece and Spain
From late July to early August 2021, Greece is going through an intense heat wave, described as the “worst heat wave since 1987” by the government, with maximum temperatures around 45°C.
Between August 11 and 16, Spain also experienced temperatures exceeding 45°C in Andalusia and Murcia (south) and reaching up to 47°C.
2019: record temperatures
The summer of 2019 was marked by two heat waves, at the end of June and the second half of July. An absolute record of heat is reached in France, on June 28, in Vérargues (Hérault, south) with 46°C. On July 24 and 25, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom also reached unprecedented temperatures for the time.
2018: severe drought
The second half of July and the beginning of August 2018 are marked by very high temperatures and an intense drought which lowers the level of rivers such as the Danube.
2017: extreme temperatures
Several heat waves affect Europe, from the end of June to the first half of August, particularly in the south. Spain records high temperatures, with a peak of 46.9°C in Cordoba (south) on July 13.
2015: early heat wave
Europe was hit early by a series of heat waves, starting in late June. England recorded a maximum of 36.7°C in early July.
2007: Central and Southern Europe
A long hot and dry period falls from the end of June to the end of July in central and southern Europe. Hungary deplores more than 500 dead, while Italy, Macedonia and Serbia are affected by numerous forest fires.
2003: thousands of deaths
Western Europe, particularly France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, experiences exceptional temperatures in the first half of August. On August 1, 2003, Portugal recorded 47.3°C in Amareleja (south).
Scientific work subsequently assesses the additional deaths in 16 European countries during the summer of 2003 at 70,000 due to the heat, France and Italy in the lead. This episode acts as an electric shock in several countries which then set up warning systems such as the heat wave plan created in France in 2004.