In recent years, Europe has experienced some of the hottest summer temperatures in recorded history. What is the highest temperature ever officially recorded on the continent? Let’s find out.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, the highest temperature ever recorded in continental Europe is 48.8°C (119.8°F). It was recorded in Floridia, near Syracuse, Sicily, Italy, on August 11, 2021. This surpassed Europe’s previous temperature record of 48.0°C (118.4°F), which had stood for more than four decades. On July 10, 1977, the Greek cities of Athens and Elefsina recorded the same scorching temperature, holding the European record until 2021.
The record-breaking temperature in Sicily was recorded during an intense heatwave that affected much of Southern and Southeastern Europe in August 2021. A powerful high-pressure system brought exceptionally hot, dry air from North Africa across the central Mediterranean. The combination of clear skies, intense sunshine, and hot desert air caused temperatures across the region to soar to extreme levels.
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The United Kingdom experienced temperatures above 40°C for the first time in recorded history on July 19, 2022. During an intense heatwave, a temperature of 40.3°C (104.5°F) was recorded at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, setting a new UK national temperature record. Because much of the UK’s infrastructure is designed for a temperate climate and to retain heat rather than deflect it, the extreme temperatures caused widespread disruptions.
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