June Registers Record Temperatures Across Europe

European temperatures reached new highs in June, consistent with observations scientists have made regarding the continent's climate trends. Researchers at Copernicus, the European Union's climate monitoring service, reported that Europe recorded its warmest June. Overall, 11 of Europe's 12 warmest Junes have occurred since 2000.

Temperature increases have occurred more rapidly in Europe than the global average. Europe's temperatures have risen by as much as 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In comparison, the global average temperature increase stands at 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Heatwaves have affected different parts of Europe throughout the year. Southern Europe experienced a heatwave in July, while northwestern Europe saw a heatwave in June. Researchers identified heatwaves as periods where maximum daily temperatures exceed average levels by at least 5 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. The number of heatwave days has increased across several European capitals since 1950. Lisbon, Portugal, experienced an average of 42 heatwave days annually between 2000 and 2020. Rome, Italy, recorded an average of 25 heatwave days per year during the same period. Paris, France, saw 15 heatwave days on average each year.

The number of extremely hot days, defined as days where the maximum temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, has also shown an increase. Madrid, Spain, historically averaged 40 such days annually between 1950 and 1980. This average increased to 52 days between 2000 and 2020. Similarly, Athens, Greece, observed an increase from 16 to 24 extremely hot days per year across those periods.

Conversely, the number of extremely cold days has decreased across European population centers. Researchers define extremely cold days as those where the minimum temperature drops below -10 degrees Celsius. Oslo, Norway, for example, previously averaged 25 extremely cold days each year from 1950 to 1980. This average fell to eight days annually between 2000 and 2020. Moscow, Russia, observed a decrease from 45 to 30 extremely cold days per year during the same measurement periods.

Average summer night temperatures have risen by over 2 degrees Celsius since 1901. Warmer nights hinder the body's recovery from daytime heat. Scientists have noted a consistent upward trend in night temperatures across Europe.

Europe's average annual temperature has increased by approximately 2.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. Researchers cited a 2022 report by the World Meteorological Organization, which stated that Europe is warming faster than any other continent. European temperatures have increased at more than twice the global average rate since the 1980s. Dr. Robert Vautard, Director of the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace for climate sciences, described Europe's current climate as 'hotter and hotter and hotter.'