Europe is bracing for another sweltering summer as meteorological summer begins with scorching heat that shattered May temperature records in the UK and Ireland. The World Meteorological Organisation has warned of the imminent return of the El Niño weather pattern, which could push temperatures to 45C in some regions.
Scientists have not yet calculated the full death toll from the recent heatwave, but early modelling suggests 250 extra deaths in the UK alone on the weekend before temperatures peaked. Heat kills more people in Europe than crime or terror attacks, with tens of thousands of early deaths each year.
A survey of European countries in 2024 found that only 21 of 38 have heat-health action plans. Simple, low-cost measures to save lives, such as turning car parks into green spaces, are often considered radical. However, climate shelters have become popular in cities like Barcelona, where over 400 have been established since 2020.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a national network of climate shelters in December. Cities across Europe, from Paris to Vienna, are adopting similar cooling zones. However, daytime shelters offer little relief from tropical nights, and many only opened in June, despite extreme heat starting in May.
Southern Europe is most exposed to punishing temperatures, but northern countries like the UK, Switzerland and Norway face the greatest relative rise in uncomfortable temperatures. Poorly insulated homes in the UK expose people to dangerous conditions in both heat and cold.
