Climate 2024: Europe Faces Extreme Weather Variability

The year 2024 has been marked by severe climatic contrasts across Europe, revealing a significant East-West divide in weather patterns. Reports from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicate that Western Europe experienced unusually heavy rainfall, while Eastern regions faced severe drought conditions. Additionally, much of Central Europe sweltered under record-breaking heat.

Tragically, this climatic turmoil resulted in the loss of at least 335 lives due to intense storms and flooding, with over 413,000 individuals suffering from the aftermath of these extreme weather events. Notably, 2024 was recorded as the hottest year on record globally, with an average temperature 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900). In Europe specifically, temperatures soared by 2.92 degrees Celsius, according to Copernicus data. Significant heatwaves were documented particularly in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, with Germany also reporting its hottest year since records began.

Europe is warming at an alarming rate, attributed to several factors highlighted by Copernicus. The region's high proportion of Arctic land, which is warming faster than any other area on the planet, plays a crucial role. Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns have also contributed, exacerbating the occurrence of summer heatwaves, while a reduction in aerosol emissions--tiny particles that reflect sunlight and mitigate heat--has further intensified warming.

The report underscores the stark contrast between the dry, sunny, and extremely warm conditions in the East and the cloudier, wetter, and comparatively cooler climate in the West. Western Europe faced one of the ten wettest years on record since 1950, resulting in rivers flowing at levels above the long-term average. Conversely, Eastern European rivers struggled with significantly reduced water levels due to the ongoing drought.

In terms of heat-related phenomena, the report notes an increase in 'heat stress days' and tropical nights across Europe. Southeastern Europe endured the longest heatwave, lasting 13 days, coupled with a record of 23 tropical nights--nights where temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. In contrast, regions in Germany, such as Heidelberg, typically experience only a handful of tropical nights each year.

Moreover, European seas have also warmed, with average surface temperatures 0.7 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average and a staggering 1.2 degrees Celsius increase observed in the Mediterranean. Extreme precipitation events and flooding have reached levels not seen since 2013, resulting in devastating disasters, notably in Spain's Valencia province in October, where over 200 fatalities were reported. Similarly, storm Boris caused severe rainfall and flooding across parts of Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and neighboring countries in September.

Experts emphasize the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions stemming from fossil fuels. The increase in renewable energy sources, which now account for 45 percent of the electricity mix, is viewed as a positive trend. However, it is vital to resist the short-term interests of the fossil fuel industry to achieve European climate goals effectively and without delay.

According to the WMO Secretary-General, every fraction of a degree in temperature rise carries significant implications for life, economies, and the health of our planet.