Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 8 hrs ago
Western Europe had a record-warm September as river levels hit new lows
Europe’s hot, dry summer conditions continued into September.
Western Europe had its warmest September on record, tied with September 2023, while Europe as a whole had its third-warmest.
Parts of the Rhine, Danube and Vistula had less water than in any September since records began.
Low water affected shipping, water supplies and farming in several countries.
Rain near the end of the month brought some relief, but caused flooding in parts of France and Spain.
Globally, September was the second-warmest on record, and the average temperature was 1.63 degrees above the pre-industrial level.
Copernicus expects the run of months above 1.5 degrees to continue into 2027 as El Niño strengthens, although a single month above that level does not mean the long-term Paris climate limit has been exceeded.
Western Europe had its joint-warmest September on record, matching September 2023, according to the EU climate service Copernicus.
Temperatures in the region were 2.51 degrees above the 1991–2020 average.
Sections of the Rhine, Danube and Vistula had their lowest September water levels since records began.
Low river levels affected shipping, water supplies and agriculture in several countries.
Rain near the end of the month brought local relief but also flooding in parts of France and Spain.
- Who
- The EU climate service Copernicus reported the findings.
- What
- Western Europe had a record-warm September, while sections of several rivers had record-low September water levels.
- When
- September; the report was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Western Europe, with low water levels reported on sections of the Rhine, Danube and Vistula.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Exceeding the long-term limit of the Paris climate agreement is only a matter of time.
How far and for how long we exceed it is still up to us.
Unusually warm and dry conditions continued in Europe, and sections of the Rhine, Danube and Vistula had their lowest water levels for the month since records began.
Rain brought local relief and caused flooding in parts of France and Spain.
- Western Europe temperature
- 2.51 degrees above the 1991–2020 average
- Warmest September
- Tied with September 2023 in Western Europe
- River levels
- Sections of the Rhine, Danube and Vistula reached their lowest September levels since records began
- Global temperature
- 1.63 degrees above the pre-industrial level in September
- Impacts
- Shipping, water supplies and agriculture were affected in several countries
Sources
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