Europe’s scorching new normal: Heat records shattered across the continent

Just days into July, the UK and Europe are already living through a preview of their altered climate—two record-smashing heatwaves in as many months. June followed May’s heat with temperatures that the UN weather agency called “extraordinary,” smashing previous highs by margins that stunned even seasoned climate scientists. Now, after a brief cooldown, another wave of heat is moving in.

The numbers tell a stark story. In the UK, temperatures hit 37.7°C in Norfolk, breaking the previous June record of 35.6°C set back in 1957. But it wasn’t just the peaks—the heat lingered into the night. Cardiff saw its warmest June night ever, never dropping below 23.5°C. Across England and Wales, many places experienced “tropical nights” where temperatures stayed above 20°C, a rarity that scientists say will become more common as the planet warms. “We normally see records broken by tenths of a degree,” said University of Reading climate scientist Ed Hawkins. “To have it shattered by such a large amount is extraordinary.”

The heatwave wasn’t confined to the UK. More than a dozen European countries broke their June temperature records, often by two to three degrees. France, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland all posted historic highs, with the Alpine nation hitting 39°C—more than 2°C above its previous June record. Marine heatwaves around the UK coast are also intensifying, partly due to the recent air temperatures, and scientists warn that warmer seas can fuel even stronger heatwaves on land by reducing the cooling effect of sea breezes. “Our heatwaves will get hotter and hotter until we reach global net zero emissions and stabilise the climate,” said Hawkins. The message from researchers is clear: this is not an anomaly, but the new baseline.