Is Europe Experiencing Earlier and Stronger Heatwaves?

Brussels, July 10 (NationPress) Europe is facing earlier and more intense heatwaves as a result of ongoing climate change, according to a senior scientist from the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

A recent monthly climate bulletin revealed a record-breaking June in Western Europe, with average temperatures reaching 20.49 degrees Celsius, which is 2.81 degrees above the norm from 1991 to 2020, primarily due to two significant heatwaves.

"These occurrences usually take place in mid-July or August," stated Julien Nicolas, senior scientist at C3S, in an interview with Xinhua news agency. "However, they are now starting much earlier, which aligns with long-term warming trends."

The heatwaves—one in mid-June and another from late June into early July—impacted large areas of western and southern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK.

Nicolas explained that these two rounds of extreme heat are linked to persistent high-pressure systems, known as "heat domes," which trap warm air and raise surface temperatures under clear, dry conditions.

Compounding the heat issue was an unprecedented marine heatwave in the western Mediterranean. On June 30, the average sea surface temperature soared to 27 degrees Celsius, marking the highest level for June on record, with a daily anomaly of 3.7 degrees, the largest ever recorded in any month, as per C3S.

Nicolas emphasized that the Mediterranean Sea is a climate change hotspot, exhibiting a rapid and ongoing warming trend. In 2024, record sea temperatures were observed throughout the entire basin during late summer, especially in August. However, this year, anomalies have appeared earlier and are concentrated in the western Mediterranean.

These conditions have exacerbated the heatwaves, particularly at night, resulting in more instances of "tropical nights"—when nighttime temperatures remain above 20 degrees Celsius, Nicolas noted.

He cautioned that tropical nights can pose significant health risks, as elevated nighttime temperatures disrupt sleep and hinder the body's recovery from daytime heat.

Nicolas also pointed out the influence of Arctic amplification, a phenomenon where diminishing snow and ice intensify warming, altering atmospheric patterns, including the jet stream. A more erratic jet stream can lead to prolonged and extreme weather events, he added.

Looking forward, Nicolas stated that seasonal forecasts from C3S predict a warmer and drier-than-usual summer, especially in eastern and southeastern Europe.

"We should anticipate more heatwaves ... as the climate continues to warm," he warned.

The climate scientist urged for immediate measures to mitigate the fundamental causes of climate change and adapt society to handle a warmer world and more frequent extreme weather.

"We must address the root of climate warming, notably the ongoing rise in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, and reduce emissions as swiftly as possible," he insisted.

"Clearly, climate action is more urgent than ever," he concluded.