Western Europe records historic June-July heatwave as drought disrupts power and transport

Western Europe has recorded its warmest June-July period on record, coinciding with global ocean surface temperatures reaching a peak of 20.96°C in July. Globally, the month was the second-warmest on record, measuring 1.47°C above pre-industrial baselines and driving widespread heat and drought across the continent.

The extreme weather has caused severe disruptions to inland transport and energy production, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. Dropping river levels forced Romania and Hungary to temporarily halt operations at nuclear reactors due to insufficient cooling water, prompting military interventions in Romania to redirect river flows. Financial analysts estimate that losses related to degraded river networks could total up to two billion euros in the third quarter. The shrinking waterways have also exposed historical artifacts, including Second World War equipment and prehistoric mammoth fossils.

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