Record heat and river droughts disrupt European energy and transport

Western Europe experienced its hottest June–July period on record as global ocean surface temperatures reached a peak of 20.96°C in July. Globally, the month was the second-warmest ever recorded, measuring 1.47°C above pre-industrial baselines and fueling widespread drought across the continent.

In Central and Eastern Europe, shrinking river levels severely impacted energy and transport networks. Nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary temporarily halted or scaled back operations due to insufficient cooling water, leading Romanian naval forces to conduct controlled detonations along the Danube to redirect river flow. The reduced water levels also crippled inland freight navigation, with Q3 economic damage estimated at up to two billion euros. The receding waters further exposed historical relics, including Second World War vehicles and mammoth remains.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)