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- Europe has seen 46°C and beyond: 9 countries that have recorded astonishing heat extremes
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Europe has seen 46°C and beyond: 9 countries that have recorded astonishing heat extremes
While the climate of Europe features moderate summers and chilly winters, there have been quite a few instances of extraordinary hot weather on the continent over the decades. Starting from the Mediterranean region to the Balkans, there are a number of countries that have experienced heat exceeding 45°C. Although the country which officially boasts of the highest recorded temperature in Europe is Italy, it isn’t the only one in the list. Here are nine European countries which have recorded the highest temperatures.
Italy
The official record holder for the highest temperature in continental Europe is Italy. In the summer of 2021, an exceptional temperature of 48.8°C was recorded in the city of Syracuse in the province of Sicily. The hot weather was part of an intense Mediterranean heat wave fueled by the hot air from North Africa. The temperature was officially confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the standard for continental Europe.
Greece
The official highest recorded temperature in Greece is 48.0°C, which occurred on July 10, 1977, in Elefsina, in the suburbs of Athens. This temperature was recorded during one of the worst heat waves in the country’s history when temperatures stayed high for many days in a row. This phenomenon took place with thousands of fatalities and the destruction of infrastructure and is considered one of the worst weather disasters in the country’s history. The record still remains almost half a century after its registration and one of the highest temperatures recorded in Europe.
Spain
A new national record of temperature was registered in Spain on August 14, 2021, when the temperature in the city of La Rambla in Córdoba province reached 47.6°C. The record was registered during one of the most severe heat waves in the history of Spain, when almost the whole territory of the Iberian Peninsula was under the influence of extremely hot weather conditions. The southern part of the country is particularly vulnerable to excessive summer temperatures due to its dry climate.
Portugal
The all-time record high temperature in Portugal is 47.4°C and it was registered in Amareleja, a town located in the region of Alentejo on August 1, 2003. It happened during the infamous European heat wave of 2003 which is considered one of the deadliest weather phenomena in the recent history of the continent. The long period of abnormally high temperatures resulted in a series of deadly forest fires and drought in Europe which claimed the lives of thousands of people. Portugal is still one of the hottest countries in Western Europe in the summer time.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina holds one of Europe’s oldest surviving national heat records. In August 1901, the city of Mostar experienced a very hot day with the air temperature reaching 46.2°C which still remains unbroken for more than a hundred years. The location of Mostar in the valley and Mediterranean influence result in extremely warm summers of this Balkan city.
France
The highest temperature ever in France occurred on June 28, 2019, in the southern village of Vérargues where the mercury hit 46.0°C. It is important to note that the temperature marked a new record for the entire country since it exceeded the previous record of the country significantly. It occurred during an early heatwave in the summer. Schools had been shut down, and there were transport disruptions as health warnings went out across the country because of the extremely high temperatures.
Azerbaijan
The national record high temperature in Azerbaijan stood at 46.0°C and was set in 2018 in the extremely hot summer. While the country lies at the meeting point of eastern Europe and western Asia, lowlands like Kura-Aras Lowland experience extremely hot weather. Due to its semi-arid and continental climate, Azerbaijan is one of the hottest countries in Europe
North Macedonia
The record maximum temperature for North Macedonia was reported in Demir Kapija with an observation of 45.7°C in the context of the severe Balkan heat wave that hit the region in July 2007. The heat wave brought extremely hot conditions, dryness, and the increased danger of forest fires to most of southeastern Europe. Being known for its valley climate, Demir Kapija is already regarded as one of the hottest regions in North Macedonia; however, the heatwave record remains unbroken.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, the highest temperature ever observed was 45.2°C. This record temperature measurement was made on July 5, 1916, in Sadovo city. Despite being recorded more than a century ago, it still holds the record title for the entire country. Situated in the southern part of Bulgaria in the Thracian plain with hot continental climate, Sadovo sometimes can experience exceptional high temperatures.
