More than half of Europe faced intense summer heat stress, EU monitor says
Copernicus said extreme heat exposed people to higher health risks, with around 80% of the continent facing at least strong heat stress.
- On Friday, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that 52 percent of Europe faced "very strong" levels of heat stress this summer, marking a record-high exposure to health risks.
- Western Europe experienced its hottest summer since records began, with heatwaves beginning unusually early in the spring; fuelled by climate change, the continent endured a relentless series of high-temperature events.
- Copernicus data shows around 80 percent of the continent experienced "strong" heat stress on a record 41 days, with Western Europe recording "very strong" heat stress on 13 days.
- Samantha Burgess, climate lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, noted the heat was "remarkable for its intensity" and "geographical extent," describing it as a defining characteristic of 2026.
- Extreme heat poses significant health risks like heat stroke, especially for outdoor workers and the elderly; Burgess noted the trend is becoming "more widespread and more persistent," contributing to global weather-related mortality.
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"One of the most characteristic elements of 2026 was that the heat was remarkable not only because of its intensity, but also because of its geographical extent," noted Samantha Burgess, a climate researcher at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (CEPMMT), which manages the Copernicus program. The post Copernicus data for this summer: Record heat stress in Europe appeared first on in.gr.
The old continent is overheating at the fastest rate in the world - What data from the EU climate observatory shows
The old continent suffered a near-incessant series of heat waves as early as spring 2026. 52% of Europe was exposed to "very strong" thermal stress (38°C) – the body's natural cooling mechanisms are exceeded – and 80% of the heat stress "strong" (32°C)A record level of 52% of Europe's territory was exposed to intense thermal stress during the exceptionally hot summer that hit the continent this year, the EU Climate Observatory said on Friday.
Half of Europe faced very strong heat stress this summer, EU scientists ...
More than half of Europe faced intense summer heat stress, EU monitor says
A record 52% of Europe faced intense heat stress this summer, the EU’s climate monitor said Friday, as climate change fuelled widespread heatwaves and tens of thousands of excess deaths. Europe recorded its third warmest summer, while western Europe experienced its hottest, with several countries setting national temperature records overall.
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