Record warmth and severe drought disrupt European energy and shipping

Western Europe experienced its warmest June–July period on record as global ocean surface temperatures hit an all-time high of 20.96°C in July. Exceedingly dry conditions across Central and Eastern Europe have severely lowered river levels, forcing nuclear power facilities in Hungary and Romania to curtail operations.

To ensure cooling water supply for Romania's remaining active reactor, naval units conducted controlled riverbed detonations along the Danube. Lowered waterways have also exposed long-buried items, including Second World War equipment and prehistoric mammoth remains. Analysts estimate that navigation halts and power generation cutbacks could cause third-quarter economic damages of up to two billion euros.

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