Source
Europe’s Scorching Summer
Western Europe experienced five record-breaking heat waves during the summer of 2026. Temperatures frequently exceeded 40°C, causing widespread environmental and social disruptions.
Why it matters
These heat waves resulted in approximately 10,000 excess deaths and critical infrastructure failures. The impact is worsened by a lack of air conditioning in most European homes.
The details
- London recorded 35.1°C on May 26, exceeding previous May records.
- Bordeaux, France reached a maximum temperature of 42.5°C on June 24.
- Slovakia set new national records for daytime and nighttime highs in August.
Show entities and relationshipsHide entities and relationships
In this article
Organizations
Topics
Technologies
Key connections
NASA operates the ECOSTRESS thermal data mission.
Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) is built with Earth System Modeling
GEOS uses mathematical equations and atmospheric physics modeling to simulate air temperatures.
ECOSTRESS uses Thermal Mapping
ECOSTRESS produces spaceborne thermal mapping data for Earth surface temperature monitoring.
UK Met Office is located in United Kingdom
The UK Met Office is the national weather service of the United Kingdom.
Météo-France is located in France
Météo-France is the national meteorological service of France.
Copernicus is related to Slovakia
Copernicus monitors climate and temperature records across European countries including Slovakia.
Show 10 more connectionsShow fewer connections
World Health Organization is related to Germany
Reports analyzed heat-related excess mortality in Germany during the 2026 heat waves.
World Health Organization is related to Belgium
Reports analyzed heat-related excess mortality in Belgium during the 2026 heat waves.
Anamika Shreevastava works at New York University
Anamika Shreevastava is a researcher at New York University.
Anamika Shreevastava works at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Anamika Shreevastava previously conducted postdoctoral research on urban heat islands at JPL.
Anamika Shreevastava uses ECOSTRESS
Shreevastava used data from NASA missions like ECOSTRESS to produce urban thermal maps.
Deborah Carr works at Boston University
Deborah Carr is a sociologist specializing in aging at Boston University.
Deborah Carr is related to NASA
Carr and her research team used climate and temperature data archived by NASA.
Qinqin Kong works at Stanford University
Qinqin Kong is a researcher at Stanford University.
NASA funds Qinqin Kong
Qinqin Kong was awarded a NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology grant.
International Energy Agency is related to World Health Organization
Both agencies provide data connecting air conditioning infrastructure and heat-related health outcomes.
Related events
Severe Summer 2026 Heat Waves Across Western Europe
Get the weekly recap
The stories like this one, picked and explained — once a week, straight to your inbox.