View source for 2006 European heatwave

{{Short description|Heat wave in Europe}}
{{Infobox heat event
| title         = 2006 European heat wave
| thermal_map   = Europe 2006 Heatwave.png
| start_date    = {{start date|df=yes|2006|06|26}}
| end_date      = {{start date|df=yes|2006|07|30}}
| areas         = [[Western Europe]]
| type          = [[Heat wave]]
| fatalities    = 3,418
}}

The '''2006 European heat wave''' was a period of exceptionally hot weather that arrived at the end of June 2006 in certain European countries. The [[United Kingdom]], [[Ireland]], [[France]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Italy]], [[Poland]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Germany]] and western parts of [[Russia]] were most affected. 

Several records were broken. In the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]], July 2006 was the warmest month since official measurements began.

==Country-by-country==

===Belgium===
[[Belgium]] experienced two heat waves in July 2006. Before 1990, a heat wave occurred about once every 8 years. Currently, the country averages one heat wave per year. On 19 July 2006, temperatures throughout the entire country rose to {{convert|36.2|C|F}}, causing it, at that moment, to be the hottest July day since 1947. The highest temperatures were recorded at the stations of [[Kleine Brogel]] and [[Genk]], which measured {{convert|37.5|C|F}} and {{convert|38.3|C|F}}, respectively.

In some regions, more particularly [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]], 36 consecutive days of temperatures above {{convert|25|C|F}} have been measured in one continuous local heat wave instead of two separate periods of hot weather (according to the official Belgian rules for registering a heat wave). In most other parts of the country, the second heat wave lasted for 17&nbsp;days.

July 2006 became the warmest month in Belgian history, with an all-time high mean temperature of {{convert|23.0|C|F}}.

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Derwentwater from east of Friar's Crag - geograph.org.uk - 218110.jpg|thumb|right|Low water levels at [[Derwent Water]], Cumbria, July 2006]]
At 14:32 [[British Summer Time|BST]] on Wednesday, 19 July 2006, {{convert|36.5|C|F}} was recorded at [[Wisley]], Surrey. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5193486.stm|title=Heatwave breaks record for July|date=19 July 2006 |publisher=BBC News|access-date=13 June 2023}}</ref> This broke the UK's previous July record by 0.5 °C set in July 1911, although it fell 2.0 °C short of the {{convert|38.5|C|F}} all-time record of the time set in August 2003.

Whilst a disputed {{convert|42.0|C|F}} was recorded at Wisley Airfield on 18 July, this figure has never been accepted and the figure of {{convert|36.5|C|F}} from 19 July is the highest acceptable value. This figure is generally deemed to be erroneous and it has been suggested that the recorded temperature was in fact {{convert|32.0|C|F}}. Another theory is that the {{convert|42.0|C|F}} record on 18 July 2006 was recorded in the sunshine, not in standard 'shaded' areas. In July 2022, another heatwave brought extremely high temperatures to the UK, and on 19 July, the 16th anniversary of the 2006 {{convert|36.5|C|F}} July record, temperatures in excess of {{convert|40.0|C|F}} were officially recorded for the first time in British history, and the highest recorded temperature of {{convert|40.3|C|F}} in [[Coningsby]], [[Lincolnshire]] is now accepted as the all-time record.

Similar temperatures were recorded in the sunshine during a brief heatwave at Wimbledon on 1 July 2015. The heatwave even warmed the normally cool and wet Scottish summer, with [[Glasgow]] having a July high of {{convert|22.7|C|F}} and low of {{convert|13.7|C|F}}, which made it the warmest month on record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/stationdata/paisleydata.txt|title=Historic station data for Glasgow/Paisley|publisher=Met Office|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> Because of the northerly location and marine nature, it was not a heat wave in a general sense, but rather unusually warm weather.

[[Drought in the United Kingdom|Drought]] was an issue in many parts of the United Kingdom after a very dry winter. There was warning of drought occurring from the early months of 2006. Following the dry winter, with extreme temperatures occurring in the country and little rain, increasing strain  was put on water supplies, and hose-pipe bans were issued in many counties. The [[Environment Agency]] claimed that the UK may have had the most severe drought in 100 years.

Some [[power cuts]] occurred, after lightning strikes and some due to large amounts of electricity used by air conditioners. In Central London on 27 July 2006 a series of power cuts hit [[Piccadilly Circus]], [[Regent Street]], [[Turner Broadcasting System Europe|Turner Broadcasting UK]] and [[Oxford Circus]] causing the closure of shops and businesses, when pre-existing faults were worsened by heavy demand.

The [[Met Office]] confirmed that July 2006 was the warmest July, as well as the warmest single month, overall, across the UK, and a number of regional records were also broken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met-office.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2006/pr20060801.html|title=UK temperature records from the Met office|access-date=2009-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813133718/http://www.met-office.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2006/pr20060801.html|archive-date=2006-08-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Asphalt concrete|tarmac]] on some roads melted in England, requiring application of crushed rock dust.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23315384|title=Who, what, why: When does tarmac melt?|work=BBC|date=15 July 2013|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5189734.stm|title=Roads melt as temperatures soar: Roads have been melting in parts of England as the heatwave across most of the country continues.|quote=Gritter lorry spreads sand on heat-damaged road in Cumbria|work=BBC|date= 18 July 2006|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>

===Germany===
In [[Germany]] most of the July temperature average records were broken. In [[Mannheim]]/[[Ludwigshafen]] a July average of {{convert|26|C|F}} was recorded, which means a temperature anomaly of {{convert|6|C-change}}, which is a new record for a monthly average in Germany (in the same cities high temperatures reached over {{convert|40|C|F}}). In Berlin an average temperature of {{convert|25|C|F}} was recorded ({{convert|7|C-change}} above normal). Such numbers were recorded all over Germany. The biggest problem was the precipitation, which mostly fell in intense thunderstorms. At least 20&nbsp;people died in this heatwave.

===Denmark===
[[Denmark]] experienced the warmest July ever with an average temperature (day and night) of {{convert|19.8|C|F}}, breaking a record of {{convert|19.5|C|F}} set in 1994. It was the second-warmest month ever, behind August 1997 at {{convert|20.4|C|F}}. It was also the sunniest July ever, and the second-sunniest ever, at 321&nbsp;hours. In fact, the previous July record was 290&nbsp;hours. Since Denmark escaped the extremes seen further south, it is now known as one of the best summer months in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vejret.tv2.dk/nyt/article.php/id-4579587.html|title=Weather records in Denmark|date=31 July 2006 |access-date=2009-11-04}}</ref>
On 25 June, the temperature reached {{cvt|34.9|C|F}} in [[Odense]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://weatherspark.com/countries/DK | title=Denmark Climate, Weather by Month, Average Temperature - Weather Spark }}</ref>

===France===
High temperatures in [[France]] destroyed many [[crops]], just days before the harvest period, while French officials said at least 40&nbsp;people were confirmed to have been killed by the heat wave directly. Temperatures as high as {{convert|37|C|F}} were recorded in [[Paris]] during the heatwave. July 2006 was in many regions the warmest July ever recorded (and often the second warmest month after August 2003). In many regions weather was particularly stormy. In Nice, the all-time high temperature record was beaten with a {{convert|37.7|C|F}} recorded on 1 August.

===Ireland===<!-- This section is linked from [[Ireland]] -->
[[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] was affected from the [[heat wave]] from the start of June, and the warm weather continued until the end of July.

Temperatures were well above average for both months. The highest recorded in June was {{convert|27.1|C|F}} at [[Ardfert]], [[County Kerry]] on 9 June. In [[Kilkenny]], [[County Kilkenny]], there were 29 consecutive days in July with temperatures over {{convert|20.0|C|F}}, and nine of these days had temperatures over {{convert|25.0|C|F}}. July 2006 was the warmest July in Ireland since records began. By the end of July, temperatures returned to average figures.

On 18 July, a temperature of {{convert|30.1|C|F}} was recorded in [[Birr, County Offaly|Birr]], [[County Offaly]]; the same day, {{convert|30.2|C|F}} was recorded at [[Kilkenny Castle]], [[County Kilkenny]] and [[Shannon Airport]], [[County Clare]]. However, temperatures again rose to {{convert|31.0|C|F}} at [[Casement Aerodrome]], [[Dublin]]; and {{convert|32.3|C|F}} at [[Elphin, County Roscommon|Elphin]], [[County Roscommon]] on the 19 July – this is the warmest temperature recorded in Ireland since 1976. Temperatures over {{convert|30.0|C|F}} are rare in Ireland, being recorded about once or twice every decade – 1976, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2003 and now 2006 are the most recent times of such high temperatures. The highest ever recorded in Ireland was {{convert|33.3|C|F}} at [[Kilkenny Castle]], [[County Kilkenny]] on 26 June 1887.

The highest mean temperatures during the heatwave were recorded at [[Merrion Square]] in [[Dublin]] city centre both months – {{convert|16.3|C|F}} in June (average {{convert|14.6|C|F}}) and {{convert|18.7|C|F}} in July (average {{convert|16.3|C|F}}).

To put this into context, average daily maxima in Ireland in only vary from {{convert|15|to|20|C|F}} in June; and {{convert|16|to|23|C|F}} in July.

Despite the high daytime temperatures, [[night time]] temperatures were sometimes below average ({{convert|6|to|11|C|F}} in June; {{convert|8|to|13|C|F}} in July). Grass temperatures as low as {{convert|-2.3|C|F}} were recorded at [[Birr, County Offaly|Birr]], [[County Offaly]] on 23 June; however, the lowest air temperature recorded was {{convert|2.0|C|F}} at [[Straide]], [[County Mayo]] on 14 June. The cool night time temperatures are thought to have made the heat wave more bearable there.

[[Sunshine]] levels were very high all over the country, with 257&nbsp;hours (~8.6&nbsp;hours a day) of sunshine recorded at [[Cork Airport]], [[County Cork]] in June (making it the sunniest June since records began) and 283&nbsp;hours (~9.1&nbsp;hours a day) of sunshine at [[Rosslare Strand|Rosslare]], [[County Wexford]] in July (sunniest July since 1990). The sunniest day during the two months (and indeed, the year) was on 25 June, when [[Malin Head]], [[County Donegal]], recorded 15.8&nbsp;hours of sunshine.

[[Rainfall]] levels were quite low, with only {{convert|13.2|mm|in}} of rain at [[Derrygreenagh]], [[County Offaly]] and [[Fermoy]], [[County Cork]] in June and {{convert|13.0|mm|in}} of rain recorded at [[Merrion Square]], [[Dublin]] in July. Parts of [[Munster]] and [[Leinster]] also recorded 21&nbsp;days between 28 May and 17 June where no rainfall was recorded. There was also a period between 9 July and 27 July when no rainfall was recorded in Greater Dublin. Despite the low rainfall, drought was not an issue in Ireland.

In Ireland, [https://web.archive.org/web/20061015013053/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/may06.pdf May 2006] was the warmest for 20 years and sunniest since 2000. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060928083708/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/jun06.pdf June 2006] was the sunniest on record, driest since 1995 and also one of the warmest. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060928083715/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/jul06.pdf July 2006] was the warmest on record, sunniest in 15 years and also driest since 1989. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061015013419/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/aug06.pdf August 2006] was average. 

[https://web.archive.org/web/20061015013319/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/sep06.pdf September 2006] was the warmest on record. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070718012951/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/oct06.pdf October 2006] was the warmest in many places since 2001 and sunniest since 2000. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070718012957/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/nov06.pdf November 2006] was warmer and sunnier than usual. Overall, [https://web.archive.org/web/20061015012904/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/summer06.pdf Summer 2006] (June, July and August) was the sunniest, driest and warmest summer since 1995 and one of the sunniest, driest and warmest on record. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070718012949/http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/autumn06.pdf Autumn 2006] (September, October, November) was the warmest on record in many places, and sunshine levels were well above normal. Rainfall levels were also above average.

The months of June and July 2006 are regarded as one of the best summers ever due to the high levels of sunshine, warm temperatures and low rainfall. Drought and health problems were not an issue in Ireland, unlike many parts of [[Europe]] – mostly because the heat was not as severe there.

===Netherlands===
'''July 2006'''

With a monthly average of {{convert|22.3|C|F}}, [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]] statistics show July 2006 was the warmest-ever month on record for the Netherlands.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207033312/http://www.knmi.nl/klimatologie/maand_en_seizoensoverzichten/maand/jul06.html KNMI Klimaatdata en Advies - Informatie over verleden weer] Around 500 or 1,000 more people than usual died in July 2006.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060830160328/http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/mens-maatschappij/bevolking/publicaties/artikelen/2006-2003-wm.htm CBS - 500 extra doden in warme juliweken - Webmagazine]

The [[International Four Days Marches Nijmegen|Four Day Marches of Nijmegen]] were cancelled after only one day as hundreds of people collapsed the first day, two of them eventually dying due to fatal [[heat stroke]]. The walking people had to walk on open roads without any shade and there was not enough water for everyone. Paramedics had their hands full with hundreds of people who fainted due to the heat. The walking people had to deal with temperatures in the sun of {{convert|42|C|F}}. The air-temperatures on the first day of the four-day march was about {{convert|36|C|F}}. Forecasts showed even higher temperatures of {{convert|37|C|F}} for the next day, causing the organisation to cancel the remainder of the event. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060713003134/http://www.4daagse.nl/index.asp?taal=en&pagina=homepagina&interactivepage= Vierdaagse]

The highest temperature was recorded on 19 July, when temperatures reached the mid- to upper 30s&nbsp;°C (mid- to upper 90s&nbsp;°F) for most of the country, especially in the south-east. The all-time record for the month of July was broken. Temperatures soared to {{convert|37.2|C|F}}. A few hundred meters across the border into Germany, at the weather station Kalkar, located at the airport in Weeze, near Nijmegen, a maximum of {{convert|38.6|C|F}} was recorded on 19 July.

At some places especially in the south-east of the Netherlands temperatures passed {{convert|30|C|F}} for 15 or 16&nbsp;days. The average daytime temperature for the month was {{convert|30|C|F}} again in the south-east of the Netherlands. The lowest daytime temperature was at some locations {{convert|34.1|C|F}} for the whole month of July. For two days the daytime temperatures were below {{convert|25|C|F}}, making 29&nbsp;days with temperatures of {{convert|25|C|F}} and higher.

During days when temperatures reached {{convert|30|C|F}} or higher, and on days without wind, the smog level was very high. Warnings were broadcast on television and radio, advising people to stay indoors as much as possible because the air pollution was very unhealthy, the smog was very strong and it was dangerously hot.

The Netherlands also had to deal with extreme drought in June and July. The rainfall in June was at some locations as low as {{convert|0.5|cm|in}}, July was also extremely dry. Because of the extreme heat and drought vegetation was very dry, and the humidity levels were very low, causing brushfires.

On 30 January 2007, the United Nations published a report of all countries in the world with the most deaths related to natural disasters for 2006. The Netherlands appeared fourth place, with 1,000 heat-related deaths.
On 19 July, the temperature reached 37.1°C in [[Westdorpe]].

===Poland===
July 2006 was the warmest in Poland since the beginning of the meteorological measurements (i.e. 1779). For most of the month, the maximum temperature exceeded {{convert|30|C|F}} – even at night it rarely fell below {{convert|20|C|F}}. The average temperature was more than {{convert|5|C-change}} higher than normal, for example in [[Warsaw]] the average temperature in July 2006 is usually {{convert|23.5|C|F}}, in [[Wrocław]] {{convert|23.8|C|F}}, and in [[Poznań]] {{convert|24.2|C|F}}. The highest temperature was recorded in [[Słubice]], near the German border {{convert|36.5|C|F}}. After the hot days, the temperature at night dropped very slowly. On 16 July in [[Słubice]] the temperature at night was {{convert|27.4|C|F}} and it was the warmest night in the entire history of meteorological measurements.

July 2006 was also extremely dry. In many regions it did not rain for 3–4 weeks. The river water levels were the lowest ever reported in Polish history and in the absence of rain, many crops dried up.

July 2006 in most Polish cities saw 300–350 sunshine hours (normally 220–240 sunshine hours): the highest number being in [[Poznań]] (373 sunshine hours) and in [[Warsaw]] (355 sunshine hours).

Post 2006:

July 2007 was AGAIN normal month in Poland. Temperature rarely exceed {{convert|30|C|F}} and it was warm, wet and wild. In many regions, including [[Elblag]] rained and it was stormy. Many crops returned to normal business, temperature rarely at night exceed {{convert|20|C|F}} and it was Cloudy, and sunny.

===Sweden===
According to the [[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]] (SMHI), the city of [[Lund]] in [[Skåne]] in southern Sweden had the highest average temperatures (day and night: {{convert|21.7|C|F}}) for the month of July since records began in 1859.<ref name="SMHI 2006 July Temperature & Clouds">{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_clouds_jul06.pdf?84120|title=Temperature & Clouds for July 2006|language=sv|publisher=SMHI|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> The rest of Sweden has however not broken the daily average temperatures from the record year 1994.

The highest temperature in Sweden in July 2006 was recorded in [[Målilla]] in [[Småland]], where a temperature of {{convert|34.2|C|F}} was recorded on 6 July. This is the highest temperature recorded in the country since July 1994 when Kalmar and Söderhamn had {{convert|35.1|C|F}}.
Målilla and Ultuna are the places where the highest temperature ever in Sweden was recorded, {{convert|38|C|F}}, in 1947 and 1933 respectively.

Målilla was the warmest location during daytime, averaging {{convert|28.3|C|F}}, but with average lows being normal at {{convert|11.1|C|F}} fell a whole degree short of Lund's aforementioned value, where the average high was {{convert|27.8|C|F}} and low {{convert|15.6|C|F}}.<ref name="SMHI 2006 July Temperature & Clouds"/> The summer was warmer than usual in all of Sweden, but north of Stockholm and the [[Mälardalen|Mälar valley]] the temperatures fell quickly, with the exception of the usual hotspot of [[Falun, Sweden|Falun]] where the average high was {{convert|26.3|C|F}} in spite of its location a bit north of [[60th parallel north|60 degrees latitude]].<ref name="SMHI 2006 July Temperature & Clouds"/>

===Russia===
Absolute maxima of July 2006 have been broken in
* [[Pskov]] +{{convert|35|C|F}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/monitor.php?id=26258&month=7&year=2006|title=Погода в Пскове - климатический монитор за июль 2006 года|website=www.pogodaiklimat.ru}}</ref>
* [[Saint Petersburg]] +{{convert|34.3|C|F}}

The warmest July in
* [[Kaliningrad]] +{{convert|21.2|C|F}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/monitor.php?id=26702&month=7&year=2006|title=Погода в Калининграде - климатический монитор за июль 2006 года|website=www.pogodaiklimat.ru}}</ref>

One day in August [[Stavropol]] reached +{{convert|39.7|C|F}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Климат Ставрополя - Погода и климат |url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/34949.htm |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.pogodaiklimat.ru}}</ref>

==Period after the heat wave==
Due to the extreme heat in July 2006, the ocean water reached a temperature normally reached in September. This increase in water temperature led to faster evaporation of ocean waters, making August one of the cloudiest and wettest months in recorded history in various western European countries. Many weather experts report this to be a direct consequence of the heat wave, as the high evaporation rate caused the atmosphere to generate many low pressure areas.

Despite this, September 2006 was again the warmest September on record, in the UK and elsewhere, due to high ocean temperatures, altered atmospheric pressure zones, and consequent different wind directions over Europe. The pressure zone changes were a consequence of the extra-tropical remnants of Atlantic hurricanes settling over the [[British Isles]].

The Met Office announced on 16 October 2006 that the extended summer of May to September 2006 was the hottest summer ever recorded, the [[Central England temperature]] mean temperature of {{convert|16.2|C|F}} for this summer was {{convert|2|C-change}} warmer than the average temperatures of 1961–1990. [http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2006/pr20061016.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103138/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2006/pr20061016.html |date=2007-09-29 }}

===In The Netherlands===
Just two months after July 2006, September 2006 became the warmest September since official measurements started. Additionally, October 2006 and November 2006 broke several temperature records. October was one of the warmest Octobers since measurements began, and November went into the record books as the second warmest November since official measurements started three hundred years prior. With temperatures from the north of the Netherlands to the south of Belgium ranging between {{convert|16|and|18|C|F}} at the end of November, previous records were shattered. The autumn of 2006 was the warmest autumn in history, breaking the old record of just one year prior (2005) by {{convert|1.4|C|F}}. The winter of 2006/2007 was the warmest in three hundred years as well, and so was the following spring.

With the exception of August 2006, every month from April 2006 to June 2007 saw temperatures above average, the most bizarre months being January 2007, which noted an average temperature of {{convert|7.1|C|F}} rather than {{convert|2.8|C|F}}, and April 2007, with {{convert|13.1|C|F}} as opposed to {{convert|8.1|C|F}}. Temperatures reached a record-breaking {{convert|29.7|C|F}} as early as 15 April. The average April daytime maximum in the Netherlands is around {{convert|12|C|F}}.

Such a sequence of events is unheard of in the Netherlands [[meteorological]] history, estimated to happen every 8,000 years when not taking global warming into account. It's been a result of a unique mixture of the hot summer increasing marine temperatures and Northern Atlantic hurricanes settling as depressions off the coast of Scotland, giving the European continent a constant stream of southern, fast winds rendering it unable to cool down from the [[Mediterranean]] through to northern Europe.

===In Belgium===
After the record-breaking month of July, August broke records on the opposite end. August 2006 was extremely rainy. Some places registered more than {{convert|200|mm|in}} of rain and received a total sunshine amount of only 90 hours, which is less than half the expected sunshine for a typical August month and a record low for any summer month in Uccle. The average temperature was about {{convert|16.3|C|F}}. 

September 2006 has been the warmest autumn month in Belgian history, with an average temperature of {{convert|18.4|C|F}}, while the normal temperature is {{convert|14.6|C|F}} (1971-2000 normals), exceptionally preceding a much colder August month. October 2006 has been the second warmest in history with an average temperature of {{convert|14.2|C|F}} (normal average for 1971-2000: {{convert|10.5|C|F}}). November 2006 has been the 4th warmest month in history, with an average temperature of {{convert|9.1|C|F}} (normal average for 1971-2000: {{convert|6.1|C|F}}). December 2006 continued the warm trend.

The autumn of 2006, at that moment, had been the warmest autumn season in recorded history with an average temperature of {{convert|13.9|C|F}}, which was 3 °C above the normal average for the climatological period 1971-2000. As of 2021, this record still stands firmly.

2007 has broken many records as well. January 2007 broke every temperature record (minimum, maximum and average). The average temperature was {{convert|7.2|C|F}}, while the normal was just {{convert|2.6|C|F}}. February 2007 set some daily records and was 2&nbsp;°C warmer than normal.

The winter of 2007, just like the previous autumn season, has also been the warmest in recorded history.

March 2007 was the 6th warmest month in history, just 0.8&nbsp;°C less than the record at that time. April 2007 broke the all-time temperature records once again, as the average temperature had been 5&nbsp;°C warmer than normal. [[Kleine Brogel]] had two tropical days on 15 and 16 April 2007 ({{convert|30|C|F}} and {{convert|30.7|C|F}}), which have been the earliest dates any place in Belgium had ever seen temperatures at or over 30°C. May started warmer than normal, but a 9-month warmth streak eventually came to an end when June returned to average temperatures around normal.

===In Finland===
The summer of 2006 was around 2&nbsp;°C warmer than the 1971–2000 average. While the heat was not record breaking, the drought was: less than half of the average summer rainfall was received in large areas, and almost all of the country received less than 75% of the usual rain. In many localities (such as [[Jokioinen]], [[Kajaani]] and [[Rovaniemi]], it was the driest summer on record.<ref>{{cite web | title = Kesän 2006 säät, kuivuus ja lämpö (Summer 2006 weather, drought and temperatures) | publisher = Finnish Meteorological Institute | url = http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_161.html | access-date = 2007-07-17 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070806104806/http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_161.html| archive-date= 6 August 2007 | url-status= dead}}</ref>  Autumn 2006 was also {{convert|1|to|2|C|F}} warmer than the average.<ref>{{cite web | title = Syystilastot (Autumn weather) | publisher = Finnish Meteorological Institute | url = http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_69.html | access-date = 2007-07-17 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070703013625/http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_69.html| archive-date= 3 July 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> While this didn't break any records, an unprecedented period of mild weather began around the middle of November.

December 2006 was the warmest December ever recorded in [[Finland]]. In [[Helsinki]], the December mean temperature was {{convert|4|C|F}}, beating the previous record of {{convert|2.9|C|F}} set in 1929. Similar records were broken across the southern and central parts of the country, while in the north the old records narrowly remained in place. On 6 December, an all time December high of {{convert|10.8|C|F}} was recorded at [[Salo, Finland|Salo]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Joulukuun 2006 sää ja tilastot (December 2006 weather and statistics) | publisher = Finnish Meteorological Institute | url = http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_66.html | access-date = 2007-07-17 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070806030604/http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_66.html| archive-date= 6 August 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

The mild weather continued well into January 2007. On January 10, many places in southern Finland observed record highs for January. These included Helsinki-Vantaa at {{convert|8.2|C|F}}, [[Turku]] at {{convert|8.4|C|F}}, and [[Lappeenranta]] at {{convert|7|C|F}}. (The national record high for January, {{convert|10.9|C|F}} set at [[Mariehamn]] in 1973, remained in place.) As a whole, the two months leading to 16 January were the mildest such period ever recorded in Finland. In Helsinki, the mean temperature for this period was {{convert|4.1|C|F}}, beating the previous record of {{convert|2.2|C|F}} set in 1982–83. In Sodankylä, it was {{convert|-4.7|C|F}} (previous record {{convert|-5.3|C|F}} set in 1972/73). In the second half of January, temperatures plunged <ref>{{cite web | title = Tammikuun 2007 sää ja tilastot (January 2007 weather and statistics) | publisher = Finnish Meteorological Institute | url = http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_51.html | access-date = 2007-07-17 }}</ref> and February 2007 was well below the average over 1971 to 2000.<ref>{{cite web | title = Tammikuun 2007 sää ja tilastot (February 2007 weather and statistics) | publisher = Finnish Meteorological Institute | url = http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_52.html | access-date = 2007-07-17 }}</ref>

===In France===
After the unusually hot July, August brought a big contrast with cool weather, cloudy skies and pretty wet weather patterns all around the country, with the exception of the Mediterranean coast.

September however turned to be very warm and sunny and in many parts of France it was the warmest in 50 years. October too was very warm and so was November, triggering in many regions the warmest autumn in recorded history. A very rare [[Foehn wind|föhn]]-like warm spell affected northern and western France on 25 November and brought temperature as high as {{convert|18|C|F}} at 7 in the morning in Paris.

December, January and February also brought extremely mild weather making the winter of 2006/2007 the warmest in recorded history.

March was relatively uneventful with average temperatures and precipitations. However April broke the record for the warmest April on record. In many regions it was also the sunniest (with almost uninterrupted sunshine for the whole 30&nbsp;days) and the driest April on record. In northern and north-eastern France the departure from the normal of the average temperature was as high as 5&nbsp;°C (9&nbsp;°F). May was too very warm making the spring 2007 the warmest in recorded history for some regions.

===In the United Kingdom===
Like the rest of Western Europe, August 2006 saw a dramatic turnaround, being a cloudy and wet month in many parts with daytime maxima below average – although the [[Central England Temperature]] (CET) was close to the long-term average, due to the cloud keeping night minima higher than normal. The month was notable for its lack of heat waves, being the first August since 1993 when {{convert|30|C|F}}) was not recorded anywhere in the country. [http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2006/august.html] <ref>{{cite web|title=Title Unknown |url=http://www.climate-uk.com/page3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221150742/http://www.climate-uk.com/page3.html |archive-date=2009-02-21 |url-status=live |access-date=2009-06-06 }}</ref> However, August 2008, which followed a much cooler July, was even duller and wetter. August 2010 again followed a similar pattern.

September 2006 was just as record-breaking as July, being the warmest on record and just as exceptionally, warmer than August had been. October and November, although not beating the records for the warmest set in 2001 and 1994 respectively, were also much warmer than average.

Winter 2006/07 was exceptionally mild, the warmest since 1868/69.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/2007_weather.htm |archive-date=2008-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224053209/http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/2007_weather.htm |title=2007 |work=The British Weather |quote=Every winter month (December, January, February) had a [[Central England Temperature|CET]] above {{convert|5|C|F}}, only the second time this has happened since 1900 (after 1988/89, although November 1988 was colder than any month of 2006/07) and only the sixth since 1659 (1685–86, 1833–34, 1833–34, and 1868/69 also). There was no snow except in the mountains until the second half of January, and the only cold snap for most of the country occurred from 7–10 February. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hadobs.metoffice.com/hadcet/cetml1659on.dat |title=MONTHLY MEAN CENTRAL ENGLAND TEMPERATURE (DEGREES C) }}</ref>

April 2007 was another record-breaker, with a CET of {{convert|11.2|C|F}} the warmest in over 300 years of temperature records and by a large margin (10.6c being previous record). This record was broken 4 years later in 2011 with a CET of {{convert|11.8|C|F}}. Temperatures were widely above {{convert|20|C|F}}, with over 200 hours of sunshine for much of the country. Parts of south-eastern Britain had no rain all month.

===In Poland===
After a hot and dry July, August 2006 was cold and very rainy. The average temperature hovered slightly below the long-term standards. At the beginning of the month in the west of the country experienced torrential rains and violent storms. In [[Wrocław]] decreased {{convert|292|mm|in}} of water; that is 4 times more than usual. As a result of heavy rains came the floods, which affected mainly [[Lower Silesia]].

For a change September 2006 was warm and dry. In the west, that month was more than {{convert|4|C-change}} warmer than the norm. In [[Słubice]] the average temperature was until {{convert|18.0|C|F}}. Early September brought gusty winds in Poland, near [[Bydgoszcz]] in [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]] tornado passed, which escaped with the roots of several hundred trees.

October 2006 is also inscribed as one of the warmer in the history of meteorological measurements, as well as very dry. For many days the temperature exceeded {{convert|20|C|F}} degrees, reaching up to {{convert|26|C|F}} at the south of the country. It was also very sunny month, because reported about 150 sunshine hours.

November 2006 in Poland was the warmest from 10 years. The daily temperature reached up to {{convert|20|C|F}} and at night rarely dropped below {{convert|0|C|F}}. November was very wet, usually dropped {{convert|100|mm|in}} of water, and the standard is approximately {{convert|40|mm|in}}. Like in October the wind was blowing strongly, particularly on the coast of the Baltic Sea. At the end of the month, thick fog blocked airports in [[Warsaw]], [[Kraków]] and [[Wrocław]] to 3 days.

Winter 2006/2007 was extremely warm and rainy, in many cities, the snow lay only a few days, and rain fell for MANY days. At night the temperature increased up to {{convert|14|C|F}} degrees, which at this time of year, it was an unprecedented phenomenon. In January 2007, the maximum temperature increased to {{convert|20|C|F}}, especially in the south, where often blow [[halny]] – a foehn wind, and in [[Elblag]] during the day {{convert|13|C|F}}, and at night {{convert|10|C|F}}. The average temperature in winter 2006/2007 in eastern Poland was about {{convert|2.5|C|F}}, normally {{convert|-2.5|C|F}} and in western Poland {{convert|4.5|C|F}}, normally {{convert|1|C|F}}. 

This conclusion was the warmest winter since the measurements. In March 2007, in [[Elblag]] this month was snow-less, but it rained and the temperature reached up to {{convert|17|C|F}}, and at night of 22nd of March {{convert|8|C|F}}. Summer 2007 was not that dry. It rained a lot, temperatures reached down to {{convert|-1|C|F}} in the Polish-Czech/[[Tatra Mountains|Tatra]] hills, temps reached up to {{convert|35|C|F}}, but it lasted for only 2-3 days, and temperature fell down.

===In Russia===
December 2006 and January 2007 were the warmest months in [[Moscow]], [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Kazan]] and other cities of [[European Russia]].

March 2007 was the warmest month in Moscow (+{{convert|4.1|C|F}}) with a record maximum +{{convert|17.5|C|F}}

In May 2007 the absolute maximum of month in many cities has been established:
* [[Tambov]] +{{convert|36.1|C|F}}
* [[Rostov-on-Don]] +{{convert|35.6|C|F}}
* [[Kazan]] +{{convert|33.8|C|F}}
* [[Moscow]] +{{convert|33.2|C|F}}

2007 and 2008 became the warmest years in Moscow history with average year temperatures +{{convert|7.1|C|F}} (2nd) and +{{convert|7.3|C|F}} (1st).

==Highest temperature per country==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Country 
! Temperature 
! Date
! Location 
|-
| {{Flag|Austria}}
| {{cvt|35.4|C|F}}
| 20 July 
| [[Innsbruck]]
|-
| {{Flag|Belgium}}
| {{cvt|38.3|C|F}}
| 19 July 
| [[Genk]]
|-
| {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
| {{cvt|36.5|C|F}}
| 19 July 
| [[Wisley]]
|-
| {{Flag|Germany}}
| {{cvt|38.9|C|F}}
| 20 July 
| [[Bernburg]] 
|-
| {{Flag|Denmark}}
| {{cvt|34.9|C|F}}
| 25 June
| [[Odense]]
|-
| {{Flag|France}}
| {{cvt|38.3|C|F}}
| 21 July
| [[Toulouse]] 
|-
| {{Flag|Ireland}}
| {{cvt|32.3|C|F}}
| 19 July 
| [[Elphin, County Roscommon|Elphin]]
|-
| {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| {{cvt|37.1|C|F}}
| 19 July 
| [[Westdorpe]]
|-
| {{Flag|Luxembourg}}
| {{cvt|38.4|C|F}}
| 26 July 
| [[Echternach]] 
|-
| {{Flag|Poland}}
| {{cvt|36.5|C|F}}
| 20 July 
| [[Słubice]]
|-
| {{Flag|Switzerland}}
| {{cvt|35.3|C|F}}
| 25 July 
| [[Geneva]]
|-
| {{Flag|Sweden}}
| {{cvt|34.2|C|F}}
| 6 July 
| [[Målilla]]
|-
| {{Flag|Russia}}
| {{cvt|37.5|C|F}}
| 17 June 
| [[Orenburg]]
|-
| {{Flag|Norway}}
| {{cvt|30.5|C|F}}
| 25 July 
| [[Oslo]]
|}

==See also==
* [[1995 Chicago heat wave]]
* [[2003 European heat wave]]
* [[2006 North American heat wave]]
* [[The Northern Hemisphere Summer heat wave of 2010]]
* [[:de:Hitzewellen_in_Europa_2015|2015 European heat waves]] 
* [[2018 European heat wave]]

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* {{in lang|de}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013038/http://www.wetteronline.de/feature/2006/07/19_hw.htm German site]
* {{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20130821094443/http://www.knmi.nl/cms/content/9542/warme_en_zonnige_zomer_2006 Dutch Site (KNMI)]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/19072006news.shtml British site]
* [http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/feature/2006/08/07_pe.htm Heat wave in UK (Philip Eden)]
* [http://www.kmi.be RMI website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0718/sunbathing.html RTÉ News Irish news article]
* [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/07/19/europe.heat.reut/index.html CNN article on heat wave]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* {{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080705084701/http://www.vrtnieuws.net/ Belgian Site (VRT News)]
* [http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=uk7dayx2;sess= Humidex graph for British weather forecasts !Updates!]
* {{in lang|sv}} [http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=147&a=562353&previousRenderType=6 Swedish news site (DN)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204060117/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=147&a=562353&previousRenderType=6 |date=2012-02-04 }}
* {{in lang|fi}} [http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot.html Climate statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute]
{{List of heat waves|state=autocollapse}}
{{Weather events in Ireland}}
{{Weather events in the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2006 European Heat Wave}}
[[Category:2006 natural disasters|European heat wave]]
[[Category:2006 meteorology|European heat wave]]
[[Category:Heat waves in Europe]]
[[Category:2006 in Europe|European Heat Wave, 2006]]
[[Category:2000s heat waves]]
[[Category:June 2006 in Europe|Heat Wave]]
[[Category:July 2006 in Europe|Heat Wave]]
[[Category:Climate change in Europe]]