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Europe — the region of the world that is warming the fastest — is currently being overwhelmed by extreme, record-breaking heat. Temperatures have reached unprecedented levels, with new May records already set in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. Meteorologists warn that another heatwave is expected soon.
The current extreme conditions are being driven by a “heat dome” — a mass of hot air originating from North Africa that has become trapped beneath a persistent high-pressure system over Western Europe.
At present, global temperatures are about 1.4°C higher than in pre-industrial times (1850–1900). Europe, however, is heating up even faster, with average temperatures now approximately 2.4°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Scientists emphasize that this warming is primarily caused by the greenhouse effect resulting from human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels. According to climate researcher Ben Clark of Imperial College London, the distribution of this excess heat is shaped by multiple atmospheric factors.
Data from Copernicus shows that shifts in atmospheric circulation have led to more frequent and more intense summer heatwaves across Europe. Persistent high-pressure systems — known as anticyclones — have become increasingly dominant in recent decades, creating stable weather conditions that trap heat over large regions.
These systems are often referred to as “blocking anticyclones” because they remain stationary and prevent cooler air masses from moving in. As a result, clear skies and dry air conditions intensify surface heating.
“Without cloud cover, warm air is pushed down to the surface while moisture is removed, making the atmosphere not only hotter but also drier,” explained Mary Bourke, professor of geography at Trinity College Dublin.
Europe’s vulnerability is also linked to its proximity to the Arctic, which is warming more than twice as fast as the global average. Arctic temperatures are already around 3.2°C above pre-industrial levels.
One key driver is the albedo effect: snow and ice normally reflect sunlight, but as they melt, darker land and ocean surfaces are exposed, absorbing more heat and accelerating further warming.
“Sea ice loss leads to increased heat absorption, which in turn accelerates warming and causes even more ice melt,” researchers note.
In addition, many parts of Europe that historically experienced prolonged winter snow cover are now seeing much less of it, leaving darker surfaces that absorb more solar energy.
The World Meteorological Organization has warned that by 2030 the planet is highly likely to experience a new global temperature record, driven by climate change and a likely return of El Niño conditions, which intensify heatwaves, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events.
