Heat wave leading to record-breaking temperatures in Europe during the spring and summer of 2018
The 2018 European drought and heat wave caused record temperatures and wildfires across the Northern Hemisphere, linked by the WMO to climate change.
Key Facts
- Time period
- Spring and summer of 2018
- Primary driver
- Weakened jet stream allowing hot high-pressure air to stagnate
- Most affected regions
- Northern and central Europe
- Associated hazards
- Record-breaking temperatures and wildfires
- Monitoring body
- European Drought Observatory
- Climate link
- WMO linked 2018 Northern Hemisphere heat waves to climate change
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A weaker-than-usual jet stream allowed hot, high-pressure air masses to stagnate over large parts of Europe and the broader Northern Hemisphere, creating conditions for sustained extreme heat and drought during the spring and summer of 2018.
The 2018 European drought and heat wave produced record-breaking temperatures and triggered widespread wildfires across many parts of Europe. It formed part of a larger Northern Hemisphere heat event, with the European Drought Observatory identifying northern and central Europe as the most severely drought-affected areas.
The World Meteorological Organization linked the severe heat waves of summer 2018 to climate change, noting associated events of extreme precipitation. The episode highlighted the growing frequency and intensity of heat-related disasters across Europe and the wider Northern Hemisphere.