Europe is Boiling, and It’s Only Getting Worse

Countries across Europe are facing an alarming transformation of their seasons, with new research revealing that what used to be a three-month summer has now stretched into a five-month-long period of extreme heat in many regions. Scientists link this trend directly to climate change, which is intensifying weather patterns and pushing cities to the edge.

A recent study by the non-profit organisation Climate Resilience for All has highlighted how several European cities are now experiencing dangerous heat for much longer durations. Based on temperature data collected between 2019 and 2023 across 85 cities worldwide, the researchers tracked how many days each city crossed the 32°C mark — a level known to pose serious risks to public health and urban infrastructure.

According to the report, the average “heat season” now lasts about 214 days — more than half the year. This is no longer a concern for the peak summer months alone. In 20 cities, extremely hot days were recorded at different points throughout the year, signalling a new and disturbing pattern.

Southern Europe is among the regions most heavily affected. Athens currently faces around 145 days of extreme heat every year, while Tirana in Albania sees close to 143 days. In Portugal, Lisbon now has a heat season of 136 days, and Madrid follows with around 119 days. Even Paris, which once had a moderate summer, now endures nearly three months of scorching temperatures from mid-June to mid-September. Cities like Munich and Warsaw, though experiencing shorter spells, are still reporting heat seasons that would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago.

The consequences of this prolonged heat are already being felt. In recent days, countries across the Mediterranean — including Greece, Turkiye, France, and Syria — have been battling fast-moving wildfires triggered by a powerful heatwave sweeping through Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East. Emergency alerts have been issued, and evacuations are underway as temperatures soar to dangerous levels. Forecasters warn the worst may be yet to come, as the heat is expected to intensify over the coming days.

Experts say these conditions are not just a string of unfortunate weather events, but the clear result of human-driven climate change. A separate report by World Weather Attribution, Climate Central, and the Red Cross Climate Centre found that from May 2024 to May 2025, climate change added roughly 30 extra days of extreme heat for nearly half the global population. In many countries, the number of high-heat days has more than doubled.

The growing length of Europe’s heat seasons is putting pressure on public services, especially healthcare systems. Elderly people, those with existing health conditions, and communities living in dense urban areas are especially vulnerable. The urban heat island effect — where cities remain hotter than rural areas due to concrete surfaces and lack of vegetation — is making matters worse.

Kathy Baughman McLeod, CEO of Climate Resilience for All, warned that the idea of a "normal summer" is now outdated. “Cities are facing new heat shocks and stresses that they were never designed for,” she said. “The ‘summer season’ many of us once knew is gone.”

Despite the mounting evidence, city planning and government responses still fall short. While solutions like planting more urban greenery, creating cooling zones, and improving building designs have been proposed, most cities lack the resources or urgency to implement them at scale.

Europe, once known for its mild summers and distinct seasons, is quickly becoming one of the frontlines of the global climate emergency. And as the heat builds year after year, the window for meaningful action is rapidly closing.

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