Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, is headed for another scorching summer, meteorologists warn
May 28, 2024
Europe is bracing for another scorching summer, according to meteorological experts, who predict temperatures comparable to the record-breaking heat waves of 2022. Todd Crawford, vice president of meteorology at Atmospheric G2, a weather and climate intelligence firm based in Manchester, N.H., says their computer models agree in predicting an unusually hot summer, especially during the period from late July to August.
Key takeaways
- The intensity of the heat is expected to be similar to the record-breaking temperatures of 2022, with the most extreme heat expected to affect southern regions, including popular tourist destinations such as Greece, Croatia and Italy;
- Since 1991, Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average, and 23 of the 30 most severe heatwaves in Europe since 1950 have occurred since 2000, with five in the last three years, according to the World Meteorological Organization;
- Despite the predicted and increasing trend of excessive summer heat, demand remains high for destinations where temperatures have reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38 degrees Celsius) or higher in recent summers;
- According to Stefan Gössling, a professor who studies tourism and climate change at Linnaeus University in Sweden, people tend to quickly forget and repress negative experiences, leading to continued bookings for these destinations.
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