'Hotter and hotter and hotter' - Europe's new climate in seven charts

Europe is experiencing a "new climate" characterized by increasingly intense heatwaves, as evidenced by record-breaking events in May and June. These extreme temperatures, described as "extraordinary" by the UN's weather agency, are providing a stark snapshot of the continent's warming future. Scientists warn that this trend is consistent with predictions for a warmer world, largely driven by the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

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Human-induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense.

Professor Stephen Belcher, chief scientist at the UK Met Office, stated that "human-induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense." The UK, in particular, saw temperatures shatter previous June records, with some stations exceeding the old high by 2C or more. "To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering," Belcher added, noting that records are usually broken by much smaller margins.

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To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering.

The intensity of the heatwaves was amplified by high humidity, which hinders the body's ability to cool down through sweating. This, combined with unusually warm nights, made conditions particularly oppressive. Cardiff recorded its warmest June night ever, with temperatures not dropping below 23.5C. Historically rare "tropical nights," where temperatures remain above 20C, became common across most of England and Wales during June.

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We normally expect the records broken by small amounts – tenths, maybe up to a degree or so.

"We would definitely expect to see more and more tropical nights, as global temperatures keep rising," said climate scientist Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading. The same "heat dome" that caused extreme heat in the UK also led to record-breaking temperatures across other parts of Europe, underscoring the widespread impact of these climate shifts.

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So to have it shattered by such a large amount is noticeable and extraordinary, and of course this comes after a similar event in May.