France, Aug. 18 -- A succession of heatwaves, record-breaking temperatures and unusually warm nights has swept Europe during the summer of 2026, offering a stark example of how climate change is reshaping weather patterns.

France alone has experienced five heatwaves this summer, with temperatures rising above 40C in several areas and records repeatedly broken across the country and elsewhere in Western Europe.

Scientists say climate change is clearly making extreme heat more intense. But one feature of this summer remains harder to explain - the repeated return of heat, with prolonged hot spells leaving little time for people, ecosystems or infrastructure to recover. Repeated extremes

Record temperatures swept regions home to 900 milli...