European Summer Climate Extremes: What to Know

The summer of 2024 is showing us how intense and common climate extremes are hitting Europe with extreme heat, huge wildfires, floods, and long droughts. These events are linked to a fast-changing climate¹²³. As we face more extreme weather, it’s key to grasp the scale of these issues for European communities.

Key Takeaways

• Europe is warming faster than any other continent, heating up twice as fast since the 1980s²³.
• Events like heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires are getting worse and happening more often. They threaten public health, buildings, and the economy¹³.
• Climate disasters in Europe could cause over 1 trillion euros in losses each year by 2100².
• Climate change is bringing back diseases like malaria in some European areas¹.
• Even though we’re learning more about and preparing for climate risks, we need quick action. We must cut emissions to meet the Paris Agreement goals².

Overview of Summer 2023 Climate Extremes

The summer of 2023 in Europe was full of contrasts. Temperatures and rainfall varied a lot across the continent⁴. June was hot and dry in the north, but the south was cooler⁴. Then, July and August brought cold and rain to the north, while the south faced extreme heat and fires⁴.

Contrasting Temperature and Precipitation Patterns

Europe was warmer than usual overall, but it wasn’t the hottest summer⁴. There were big floods and flash floods in some places⁴. These events showed how unpredictable and extreme Europe’s climate is becoming.

Record-Breaking Sea Surface Temperatures

The seas around Europe were also very warm⁴. Heatwaves were seen in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Bay of Biscay, and the Mediterranean. Sea temperatures hit record highs⁴. These heatwaves can harm coastal ecosystems and communities that depend on them.

“The summer of 2023 was a stark reminder of the growing threat of climate change and the need for urgent action to mitigate its impacts.” – Climate Scientist, Dr. Emma Watkins

Climate change is making extreme weather events like those in Europe’s summer of 2023 more common⁵. It’s important for communities and economies to adapt and become resilient⁶.

Heatwaves: A Deadly and Increasingly Frequent Threat

Heatwaves are now a major threat in Europe, causing thousands of deaths each year⁷. In 2003, over 70,000 people died from heatwaves in Europe⁷. The 2022 summer saw around 61,672 heat-related deaths across the continent⁷. Countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal were hit the hardest⁷.

Impacts on Human Health and Mortality

Heatwaves are a big risk to health, especially for the elderly, babies, and people with health issues⁸. In 2022, Italy had the most heat-related deaths with 18,010, followed by Spain with 11,324, and Germany with 8,173⁷. Women were 56% more likely to die from heat than men, and the risk went up with age, especially for those over 80⁷.

Regional Variations and Future Projections

Heatwaves vary in intensity and length across Europe⁷. In June 2022, temperatures were +0.78 to +2.33°C above normal, and in July, they were +0.18 to +3.56°C above normal⁷. The worst heatwave, linked to 11,637 deaths, happened in week 29⁷.

The future looks grim for heatwaves⁸. By 2050, heat-related deaths could hit 120,000 a year in the WHO European Region⁸, unless we act⁸. We need strong climate action and effective heat-health plans to fight this threat⁸.

“Adverse health effects of hot weather, including heatwaves, are preventable through good public health practices.”⁸

With climate change, heatwaves will get worse⁸. We must have strong adaptation plans, early warnings, and help for vulnerable groups⁸. By acting now, we can save lives and make communities more resilient against heatwaves⁸.

Floods and Heavy Precipitation Events

Climate change is making Europe face more floods and heavy rain. These events are getting worse and causing a lot of damage⁹. For example, Austria had over 400 landslides and lost more than €110 million from heavy rain in August⁹. France saw damages of about €550 million from storms and rain in November⁹.

These weather events are hitting hard, causing big losses. Germany lost €140 million from summer rains and another storm in October⁹. Italy faced nearly €9 billion in damages from floods in May, but only 6% of that was insured⁹. Spain had bridges collapse and insurance claims went up by 232% in September⁹. The UK also suffered, with a storm in October causing about €509 million in losses across Europe, mostly from floods in the UK⁹.

Climate change is making these floods and heavy rains worse¹⁰. Studies show that heavy rain events like the recent floods can happen every 400 years in some areas¹⁰. But climate change is making these events more intense, with a 3-19% increase in the maximum rainfall in some regions¹⁰. The chances of such events happening are also rising, by 1.2 to 9 times¹⁰.

The July 2021 floods in Europe killed over 200 people¹⁰. This shows how dangerous these weather events can be for people, buildings, and communities. With climate change, we need to act fast to protect ourselves.

Rising Damages and Exposure

Floods and heavy rain are causing more damage and putting more people at risk⁹. From 1980 to 2021, the cost of flooding was nearly €258 billion, and it keeps going up by over 2% a year⁹. Building in floodplains makes it harder for vulnerable people and important places like schools and hospitals⁹.

These disasters cost a lot of money, like €24 million for Spanish insurers and €100 million to €115 million for the Insurance Compensation Consortium⁹. In Luxembourg, the harvest was 15% smaller than in 2022, costing €150 million⁹. The UK is also dealing with more subsidence claims because of land drying out and weakening buildings⁹.

We need better ways to manage risks and new insurance solutions because of climate change⁹. Insurers and policymakers must work together to create better risk models and new products. They should invest in sustainable projects too⁹. By teaching people about these risks, Europe can get ready for the challenges ahead⁹¹⁰¹¹.

Droughts: A Growing Challenge for Agriculture

Europe has seen a big problem lately – droughts are hitting the agricultural sector hard. Since 2018, over half of Europe has faced extreme drought, in both winter and summer¹². These dry spells have cut down the yields of important crops like maize, corn, soybeans, and olive oil¹².

Looking ahead, the outlook is worrying. Southern and central Europe might get drier and hotter in the 21st century, which could be a disaster for farming¹². If warming gets worse, crops in southern areas could drop a lot. This might make it hard to grow crops like maize in Spain, France, Italy, and the Balkans without using irrigation¹².

The economic damage from these droughts is huge. Losses could jump from EUR 9 billion a year now to EUR 25 billion at 1.5°C warming, EUR 31 billion at 2°C, and EUR 45 billion at 3°C warming¹².

Droughts also hit European agriculture hard. Areas hit by drought could jump from 13% to 26% in a warmer future¹². Farmers face big changes, with southern wheat production possibly dropping by up to 50%. Wheat yields in Southern Europe might fall by 12%, but could rise by 5% in the north¹².

The threat from droughts in Europe is clear – they’re a big risk for agriculture with big economic effects. Adapting and building resilience against extreme weather is key for European farming’s future¹³.

Wildfires: Exacerbated by Climate Change

Europe has seen a sharp rise in wildfires, mainly due to climate change¹⁴. Most fires start from human actions, but their severity is worsened by dry and hot weather and strong winds¹⁴. These fires used to mainly affect Southern Europe, but now they’re spreading to central and northern areas too¹⁴.

Wildfires have caused huge damage. Since 1980, over 700 people have lost their lives in Europe due to these fires¹⁴. The 2022 season was the second worst on record, with over 5,000 square kilometers burnt and a record number of protected nature sites affected¹⁴¹⁵.

Climate change is a major reason for the increase in wildfires in Europe¹⁴¹⁶. If global temperatures rise by 2°C, Southern Europe could see a tenfold increase in catastrophic fires¹⁴. Northern and central Europe will also face more wildfires during droughts¹⁴¹⁶.

The situation is alarming. In 2021, wildfires in Southern Europe burned over 391,736 hectares, the highest since 2017¹⁴. Three of the worst fire years have been in the last six years¹⁴. These fires are happening outside the usual fire season and are getting worse¹⁴.

Wildfires are not just a problem in the Mediterranean. If temperatures rise by 2°C in the short-term and 3°C in the long-term, Europe will face more wildfires¹⁴. In extreme scenarios, temperatures could go up by 4°C, making wildfires even more likely¹⁴. This will make the risk of wildfires much higher across Europe¹⁴¹⁶.

The threat of wildfires is not just in the Mediterranean. If temperatures rise by 2°C in the short-term and 3°C in the long-term, Europe will face more wildfires¹⁴. In extreme scenarios, temperatures could go up by 4°C, making wildfires even more likely¹⁴. This will make the risk of wildfires much higher across Europe¹⁴¹⁶.

The data shows a worrying trend. In 2021, wildfires in Southern Europe burned over 391,736 hectares, the highest since 2017¹⁴. Three of the worst fire years have been in the last six years¹⁴. These fires are happening outside the usual fire season and are getting worse¹⁴.

The threat of wildfires is not just in the Mediterranean. If temperatures rise by 2°C in the short-term and 3°C in the long-term, Europe will face more wildfires¹⁴. In extreme scenarios, temperatures could go up by 4°C, making wildfires even more likely¹⁴. This will make the risk of wildfires much higher across Europe¹⁴¹⁶.

A 20-year return period Fire Weather Index (FWI) value in Southern Europe is 63, showing severe fire risk¹⁴. The boreal region has a lower FWI value (FWI = 19), indicating less fire risk¹⁴.

Wildfires are a growing concern in Europe, with climate change driving their increase in intensity and frequency¹⁴¹⁶. The need for urgent action to mitigate and adapt to this threat is clear¹⁴¹⁵¹⁶.

climate extremes during European summer

The European continent has seen a big increase in climate extremes this summer. This has brought big challenges and risks. One major worry is the growing risk of fires, which could harm communities and nature across the region¹⁷.

Increasing Exposure to High Fire Danger

In a high emissions climate change scenario, southern Europe, especially the Iberian Peninsula, will see more days with high fire danger¹⁷. More people will live near wildlands and face high-to-extreme fire danger for at least 10 days a year. This is expected to increase by 15 million people (+24%) under a 3°C global warming scenario¹⁷.

This rise in fire risk comes from extreme heat and drought in the region¹⁸. Summer 2023 was the 5th warmest on record for Europe. The warmest June on record was in northwestern Europe, and July was the warmest ever in southern Europe¹⁸. Extreme heatwaves and record-high sea temperatures made fire danger worse in southern and southwestern Europe¹⁸.

These climate extremes are getting more frequent and intense, making fire-prone areas bigger and wildfires more likely¹⁷. It’s crucial for policymakers and communities to act fast to protect lives, jobs, and nature.

The southern parts of Europe are feeling the worst of the increased fire danger from climate change¹⁷. We need to take steps to prevent fires, improve warnings, and boost firefighting efforts. This will help protect vulnerable communities¹⁷.

“The summer of 2023 has been a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to address the growing threat of climate extremes in Europe. The increasing exposure to high fire danger underscores the pressing challenge we face in safeguarding our communities and environment.”

As climate change gets worse, we must act fast to tackle the rising fire danger in Europe¹⁷. We need strong, well-thought-out plans to reduce greenhouse gases, improve our ability to adapt, and work together across borders. This is the only way to ensure a safer and more sustainable future for Europe¹⁷¹⁹¹⁸.

Climate-Sensitive Diseases: A Public Health Concern

Climate change is making Europe face a big health issue. Warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns are letting disease-carrying bugs spread further. This is a big risk for people²⁰.

Species like ticks, which can give you Lyme disease, are already common in Europe²⁰. But, new bugs like the tiger mosquito are moving into new areas²⁰. This mosquito can spread diseases like dengue fever. It’s expected to get more common in western Europe by the end of the century²⁰.

These changes are already causing problems. Heat has led to more deaths, especially in women, over the past decade²⁰. A disease called leishmaniasis is spreading because of the heat²⁰. Ticks that carry Lyme disease are also moving into new areas²⁰.

There’s been a big jump in studies on climate and health in Europe from 1991 to 2022²⁰. But, we still need more research. Most studies in 2022 didn’t talk about equality or justice in health effects²⁰.

Spread of Disease-Carrying Species

Climate change is making disease-carrying bugs spread more in Europe. Heat has caused a 30% increase in deaths over the last 20 years in Europe²¹. The most affected areas are in central and southern Spain²¹.

Heatwaves have caused between 55,000 to 72,000 deaths each summer from 2003 to 2022 in Europe²¹. The climate change is making it easier for these bugs to live and spread²¹. Cities are getting hotter, making it perfect for these bugs²¹.

Only 12 out of 50 European countries are including health in their climate plans²¹. The European Environment Agency says high temperatures are making people sick and spreading diseases²². As the climate changes, these diseases will get worse. We need a strong plan to fight them²¹.

“Climate change is not just an environmental issue, but a critical public health concern. The spread of climate-sensitive diseases requires immediate attention and action to protect communities across Europe.”

Adapting to Climate Change: Policies and Actions

Europe faces big challenges from climate change. It needs strong policies and efforts at all levels to be resilient²³. The continent is warming fast, and the hot summer of 2022 led to 60,000 to 70,000 premature deaths²³. Now, fighting climate change is a top goal.

EU and National Adaptation Strategies

The European Union has set up a strong policy to help its member states adapt to climate change²³. All EU countries, plus some others, have made national plans to adapt²³. But, they need to link these plans better with other policies, like health care²³.

It’s important to do more to protect people from heat, make cities greener, and watch for diseases that climate change affects²³.

Local and Regional Initiatives

Local and regional efforts are key in fighting climate change²³. Over 4,500 cities and towns in Europe have joined the Covenant of Mayors to act against climate change²³. Projects like Paris’s Oasis program and Austria’s weather warning system show how communities can make a big difference²⁴.

Agriculture also needs adaptation, especially since many European farmers are getting older²³. By working together, Europe can get better at handling climate change’s effects and keep its people, economy, and nature safe²⁵.

The climate crisis demands a strong, multi-layered approach to adaptation. The EU, governments, and communities must join forces to make policies, expand adaptation efforts, and help citizens build a resilient future.

Conclusion

The summer of 2023 showed us the harsh reality of climate change in Europe¹⁸. Extreme heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts highlight the need for action²⁶. We must act fast to protect our communities²⁶.

EU, national, and regional efforts aim to make Europe more resilient²⁶. We need to speed up these efforts. Improving early warnings, investing in green projects, and working together across borders are key steps²⁶.

Climate change is now a real threat, not just a future worry¹⁸. Governments, businesses, and citizens must join forces to lessen its effects²⁶. Together, we can build a resilient future²⁶.

Europe’s experience with climate change warns us and urges action¹⁸. By learning from the past and investing in adaptation, Europe can lead in creating a sustainable future²⁶.

“The time to act is now. The impacts of climate change are no longer a distant threat, but a harsh and immediate reality that we must confront head-on.”

We need a strong, united effort to tackle climate change’s many challenges¹⁸. By working together, Europe can overcome these challenges and thrive in a changing climate²⁶.

Preparing for the Future

Climate change is making its mark across Europe, and we need strong plans to deal with it. We must improve early warning systems and invest in green projects to protect lives and jobs²⁷.

Strengthening Early Warning Systems

Early warning systems are key to quick action during disasters. Europe is getting better at understanding and preparing for climate risks, focusing on the most urgent ones²⁷. But with the continent warming faster than other areas²⁸, we need better warnings now more than ever.

Using new tech in weather monitoring and data analysis, Europe can create top-notch early warning systems. These should give alerts for heatwaves, floods, and wildfires²⁹. They must also have strong response plans and reach out to those most at risk, so everyone is ready to face climate challenges.

Investing in Green Infrastructure

Green projects like urban forests and natural flood barriers are also crucial for getting ready for climate change. They lessen the effects of extreme weather and offer many benefits, like cleaner air and more wildlife²⁷.

With climate disasters expected to cost Europe 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) a year by 2100²⁷, green projects are more important than ever. By adding them to city and countryside plans, we can make communities stronger against climate change.

To get ready for the future, Europe needs a strong, united effort. We should boost early warnings and green projects at all levels²⁷. This way, we can protect our people and economy, leading the world in adapting to climate change²⁷²⁸²⁹.

Collaborative Efforts Across Europe

Europe is coming together to tackle climate change’s big challenges. By sharing strategies and lessons, we can speed up progress in becoming more climate resilient³⁰. For example, the IMPETUS project, backed by the European Union, brings together 32 partners from nine countries³⁰. It uses sewer mining to clean and reuse wastewater in dry areas³⁰.

Sharing Best Practices and Lessons Learned

The Heat-Shield project has made tools like the MapViewer for predicting heatwaves in Europe³¹. It looked at 16 European systems for warning about heat and sharing good practices³¹. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also has tools to predict diseases near the coast³¹. Plus, the polleninfo portal gives pollen forecasts and allergy risks³¹.

Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation

Climate change is making it more important to work together across borders³². The Horizon 2020 project EXtremeClimTwin is boosting research in Serbia, with help from the UK and others³². It’s about building skills and sharing knowledge to improve climate research and disaster response³².

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Jessica Brighton

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