Europe’s latest heatwave ‘most severe on record,’ study says

Europe’s latest heatwave, which pushed temperatures to record levels and triggered red alerts in several countries this week, has been described as the most severe ever recorded in the region, according to a new report.

The study, published on Friday by World Weather Attribution, said climate change caused by fossil fuel use made the extreme temperatures much more likely and more intense.

Researchers found that the temperatures seen during the current heatwave would have been almost impossible 50 years ago.

The report said that in 1976, when several previous European heat records were set, the temperatures recorded this year in June would have been nearly impossible to occur.

It added that even during the major heatwave of 2003, similar daytime temperatures were around 10 times less likely than they are today.

Scientists also said the unusually high night temperatures during this week’s heatwave would have been more than 100 times less likely in 2003.

According to the report, many European capitals recorded their hottest three-day stretch in June and their warmest three-day period since 1950.

Researchers warned that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent as global temperatures continue to rise.

The report also noted that June is warming faster than any other month across much of western Europe.