Copernicus: ‘Eastern Europe is getting hotter, Western Europe wetter

Globally, 2024 was the warmest year on record and the first with an average temperature exceeding 1.5°C above the pre‑industrial level. The last ten years have been the warmest ten years on record. This is stated in the Copernicus European State of the Climate Summary 2024, compiled by the European climate service Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

In Europe, the impacts of climate change are clear. Since the 1980s, Europe has warmed twice as fast as the global average, making it the fastest‑warming continent. This is partly due to the proportion of European land in the Arctic, the fastest‑warming region on Earth, and more frequent summer heatwaves.

Distinct east-west contrast

Europe experienced a distinct east‑west contrast in several climate variables during 2024, with eastern areas generally sunny and warm while western areas were cloudier and wetter.

Europe as a whole reached a record‑high annual temperature. In Eastern Europe, much of the year saw warmer‑than‑average or record‑high temperatures. Southeastern Europe also experienced its most prolonged heatwave on record.

Temperatures in Western Europe varied more, with some months seeing average or cooler‑than‑average conditions. 2024 was one of the ten wettest years for Western Europe in the analyzed period since 1950. Western Europe experienced more cloud cover than average, while Eastern Europe saw more sunshine hours.

Record number of ‘heat-stress days’

Most of Europe saw above‑average temperatures for the year, but southeastern Europe experienced extreme heat during the summer. There were record‑high numbers of ‘strong heat-stress’ days and tropical nights. The number of heat-stress days and tropical nights is increasing in southeastern Europe, and the year-to-year variability in the number of wet days in summer is increasing.

Southeastern Europe saw lower-than-average rainfall and its driest summer in a 12-year ‘drought index’ record, with summer-average river flows ‘notably’ or ‘exceptionally low’.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global warming of 1.5°C could result in 30,000 deaths per year in Europe due to extreme heat, with southeastern Europe seeing the highest and fastest-rising toll.

The Arctic

2024 was the third warmest year on record for the Arctic as a whole and the fourth warmest for Arctic land. During the summer, there were contrasting temperature anomalies across the European Arctic.

In the east, temperatures were much above average, often reaching record highs. Further west, temperatures were mostly near or below average. The annual average sea surface and ice temperature north of the Arctic Circle was the third warmest on record.

Tackling climate change

Densely populated urban areas are major drivers of environmental degradation. However, around 70% of climate change mitigation and 90% of adaptation efforts occur in Europe’s urban areas, making them key leaders in tackling climate change.

European institutions are developing policies designed to accelerate local action, such as developing climate and energy plans. Extreme weather events increase risks to Europe’s built environment, infrastructure, and the services they support. Urgent action is needed, particularly regarding flood risks.