Europe’s summer from hell seems over – but is it really?

Record heat, drought, fires, and floods battered the continent – and scientists warn such extremes are becoming far more likely Summer is officially over in Europe – and for millions of people, this may be remembered as the year when extreme weather stopped feeling particularly unusual.Western Europe endured an extraordinary succession of heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and water shortages. Temperatures repeatedly climbed above 40C (104F), rivers fell to historic lows, and crops withered.Then, in some places, the drought ended not with gentle rain but violent storms and flash flooding.France, the UK, and Belgium all recorded their hottest summers on record.So, was 2026 simply an exceptionally unlucky summer?Scientists increasingly say no.How hot was it?France averaged 24C across June, July, and August, 3.6C above the 1991-2020 norm. The previous record, set during the deadly summer of 2003, was 2.7C above normal.The country endured three official heatwaves totaling an unprecedented 53 days. Some 45% of France experienced temperatures of at least 40C at some point during the summer.Britain, hardly famous for scorching summers, recorded a seasonal mean temperature of 16.5C – the highe...