Europe is warming faster than any other continent as heat waves grow hotter, more frequent, and longer-lasting worldwide. Scientists attribute these extremes largely to ongoing emissions of heat-trapping gases from fossil fuel combustion. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in March 2025 that 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first in which Earth’s surface temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. The past 11 years have collectively been the hottest ever recorded.
In-Depth:
Intense heat has contributed to record-breaking summer temperatures around the globe in recent years. The map above displays the latest forecast.
While tying a single heat wave to climate alter requires extensive analysis, scientists have no doubt that heat waves around the world are becoming hotter, more frequent and longer-lasting, and Europe is warming rapider than any other continent.
The past 11 years have been the hottest on record. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in March 2025 that 2024 was the hottest year and the first year in which Earth’s surface was more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above its average during the preindustrial era.
Where it will be warm over the next six days
The bouts of exceptional warmth are driven in large part by the continued emissions of heat-trapping gases, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels.
