Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and the impacts of climate change are clear. 2024 was the warmest year on record for Europe.
By the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Storms were often severe and flooding widespread, claiming at least 335 lives and affecting an estimated 413 000 people.
During the year, there was a striking east-west contrast in climate conditions, with extremely dry and often record-warm conditions in the east, and warm but wet conditions in the west.
Key Facts
Temperature: 2024 was the warmest year for Europe, with record-high annual temperatures in almost half of the continent.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST): For the year as a whole, SST for the European region was the highest on record, at 0.7°C above average, and for the Mediterranean Sea, at 1.2°C above average.
Rainfall: There was a distinct east-west contrast in precipitation conditions. Western Europe saw one of the ten wettest years in the analysed period since 1950.
Flooding: Europe experienced the most widespread flooding since 2013. Almost one third of the river network saw flooding that exceeded at least the ‘high’ flood threshold. Storms and flooding affected an estimated 413,000 people in Europe, with at least 335 lives lost.
Heat stress: The numbers of days with ‘strong’, ‘very strong’ and ‘extreme heat stress’ were all the second highest on record. 60% of Europe saw more days than average with at least ‘strong heat stress’.
Renewable energy: The proportion of electricity generation by renewables in Europe reached a record high in 2024, at 45%
Cold extremes: The area of European land that experienced fewer than three months (90 days) of frost days was the largest on record (~69%, the average is 50%).
Cold stress: There was a record low number of days with at least ‘strong cold stress’.
Glaciers: All European regions saw a loss of ice; glaciers in Scandinavia and Svalbard saw their highest rates of mass loss on record.
Wildfires: In September, fires in Portugal burned around 110,000 ha (1100 km2) in one week, representing around a quarter of Europe’s total annual burnt area. An estimated 42,000 people were affected by wildfires in Europe.
Copernicus ECMWF Climate Change Service and WMO joint report
Striking east-west contrast and widespread flooding
2024 was Europe’s warmest year on record
Renewable energy generation reaches new high
Cities make progress in climate adaptation
The European State of the Climate 2024 (ESOTC 2024) report, released on 15 April 2025, involves around 100 scientific contributors providing holistic yet concise insights into Europe’s climate.
C3S is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission.
*SOURCE: World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Go to ORIGINAL: https://wmo.int/publication-series/european-state-of-climate-2024
