2024 was the warmest year in Europe since measurements began. We experienced the longest heatwave ever seen in Southeastern Europe, and the melting of glaciers in Scandinavia and Spitsbergen was unprecedented. Throughout the year, there was a striking difference between Eastern and Western Europe with extremely dry and often record warm conditions in the east and warm but wet conditions in the west – as in the Netherlands. The latest Copernicus/WMO report on the European climate of 2024 lays out all the facts.
High Temperature
Europe is the continent that is warming the fastest. The impact of climate change on society is undeniable. 2024 was the warmest year ever recorded in Europe with record high temperatures in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe (image 1).
After a warmer than average spring, there were 6 heatwaves in the summer of 2024 including the longest and second most extreme European heatwave in the measurement series (image 2). The strength and ranking of heatwaves are derived from temperature deviation, length, and affected area. The heatwave of July 2007 in Southeastern Europe is thus the most extreme heatwave in the measurement series with a length of 10 days and a temperature deviation of 9.7 °C in 72 percent of Southeastern Europe. The most extreme heatwave in 2024 lasted 13 days with a temperature deviation of 9.2 °C in 55 percent of the area. This was part of a series of heatwaves in the summer and early autumn.