Western Europe had a very hot summer in 2026. By the middle of August, people there lived through their fifth heat wave. Temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in many places. In London, the air reached 35.1 degrees Celsius on May 26. The heat often stayed for days and did not cool down at night.
More people went to hospital, and some died from the heat. Roads and train tracks bent, so trips were cancelled. Big wildfires burned in areas where fires were once rare. In Europe, only 23 percent of homes have air conditioning. In the United States, 90 percent do. Experts say cities can plant trees and open more parks.