Overview

• 2024 was confirmed as Europe's hottest year on record, with temperatures nearly 3°C above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus and the WMO.
• A stark east-west climate divide persisted, with extreme drought and heat in Eastern Europe and excessive rainfall causing flooding in Western Europe.
• New rainfall forecasts for April 2025 suggest limited relief for drought-stricken regions, as rainfall remains insufficient to address long-term water deficits.
• Severe weather events in 2024 affected over 413,000 people, with 335 fatalities linked to storms and floods across the continent.
• Experts emphasize the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation strategies as Europe warms faster than any other continent.