2022 European heatwaves

2022 European heatwaves
A temperature anomaly map in Europe for July
TypeHeatwave
Areas
Start date10 June 2022 (2022-06-10)
End date12 September 2022 (2022-09-12)
Peak temp. 47.0 °C (116.6 °F), recorded at Pinhão, Portugal on 14 July 2022[1]
Losses
Deaths~20,000 (reported)
Damages€19 billion[2]

From June to August 2022, persistent heatwaves affected parts of Europe, causing evacuations and killing tens of thousands. These heat waves were the deadliest meteorological events in 2022. The highest temperature recorded was 47.0 °C (116.6 °F) in Pinhão, Portugal, on 14 July.[3]

In June 2022, temperatures of 40–43 °C (104–109 °F) were recorded in parts of Europe, with most severe temperature anomalies in France, where several records were broken.[4][5]

A second more severe heatwave occurred in mid-July, extending north to the United Kingdom where temperatures surpassing 40 °C (104 °F) were recorded for the first time.[6] The heatwaves were part of climate change in Europe.[7][8][9]

A third heatwave began in August with parts of France and Spain expected to reach temperatures as high as 38 °C (100 °F). A prolonged hot period also hit the United Kingdom.[10]

Although temperatures in most places in Europe subsided in August, a smaller heatwave impacted France on 12 September, with temperatures reaching 40.1 °C (104.2 °F).[11]

As a result of the heatwaves, widespread droughts occurred across the continent.[12]

Eurostat reported that the European Union saw 53,000 excess deaths in July, some of which may have occurred because of the heat wave. The excess death rate was several times higher than in July 2020 or July 2021, a statistic notable due to the COVID-19 pandemic having taken place in Europe during those years. The worst increases were seen in Spain and Cyprus.[13]

  1. ^ "Portugal hits 47°C". www.theportugalnews.com.
  2. ^ "Q3 Global Catastrophe Recap" (PDF). Aon Benfield. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Portugal hits 47°C". www.theportugalnews.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. ^ Livingstone, Ian (20 June 2022). "Historic June heat wave smashes records in Europe". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Climate change: Europe's warm summer shatters records". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  6. ^ Landler, Mark (19 July 2022). "U.K. Heat Wave: Britain Sets New Record on a Second Day of Scorching Temperatures". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  7. ^ Abdul, Geneva (18 July 2022). "Heatwaves caused by climate crisis may become regular event, says Met Office chief". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Heatwave in Europe: local resilience saves lives – global collaboration will save humanity". www.who.int. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Climate breakdown made UK heatwave 10 times more likely, study finds". The Guardian. 28 July 2022. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  10. ^ Fowle, Alice (8 August 2022). "Weather tracker: no relief as heatwaves continue in parts of Europe and China". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  11. ^ "September temperature records broken in France amid new heatwave". The Local France. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  12. ^ "'Very critical situation': Almost half of EU countries suffering from drought". Sky News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  13. ^ "EU saw 53,000 excess deaths in July amid record heatwave: report - National". Global News. Retrieved 23 September 2022.