2006 European heatwave
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, Ireland and the United Kingdom, July 2006 was the warmest month since official measurements began.
Country-by-country
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, 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 and, respectively.In some regions, more particularly Limburg, 36 consecutive days of temperatures above have been measured in one continuous local heat wave instead of two separate periods of hot weather. In most other parts of the country, the second heat wave lasted for 17 days.
July 2006 became the warmest month in Belgian history, with an all-time high mean temperature of.
United Kingdom
At 14:32 BST on Wednesday, 19 July 2006, was recorded at Wisley, Surrey. 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 all-time record of the time set in August 2003.Whilst a disputed was recorded at Wisley Airfield on 18 July, this figure has never been accepted and the figure of 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. Another theory is that the 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 July record, temperatures in excess of were officially recorded for the first time in British history, and the highest recorded temperature of 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 and low of, which made it the warmest month on record. Because of the northerly location and marine nature, it was not a heat wave in a general sense, but rather unusually warm weather.
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 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.
The tarmac on some roads melted in England, requiring application of crushed rock dust.
Germany
In Germany most of the July temperature average records were broken. In Mannheim/Ludwigshafen a July average of was recorded, which means a temperature anomaly of, which is a new record for a monthly average in Germany. In Berlin an average temperature of was recorded. Such numbers were recorded all over Germany. The biggest problem was the precipitation, which mostly fell in intense thunderstorms. At least 20 people died in this heatwave.Denmark
experienced the warmest July ever with an average temperature of, breaking a record of set in 1994. It was the second-warmest month ever, behind August 1997 at. It was also the sunniest July ever, and the second-sunniest ever, at 321 hours. In fact, the previous July record was 290 hours. Since Denmark escaped the extremes seen further south, it is now known as one of the best summer months in history.On 25 June, the temperature reached in Odense.
France
High temperatures in France destroyed many crops, just days before the harvest period, while French officials said at least 40 people were confirmed to have been killed by the heat wave directly. Temperatures as high as were recorded in Paris during the heatwave. July 2006 was in many regions the warmest July ever recorded. In many regions weather was particularly stormy. In Nice, the all-time high temperature record was beaten with a recorded on 1 August.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 at Ardfert, County Kerry on 9 June. In Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, there were 29 consecutive days in July with temperatures over, and nine of these days had temperatures over. 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 was recorded in Birr, County Offaly; the same day, was recorded at Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny and Shannon Airport, County Clare. However, temperatures again rose to at Casement Aerodrome, Dublin; and at Elphin, County Roscommon on the 19 July – this is the warmest temperature recorded in Ireland since 1976. Temperatures over 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 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 – in June and in July.
To put this into context, average daily maxima in Ireland in only vary from in June; and in July.
Despite the high daytime temperatures, night time temperatures were sometimes below average. Grass temperatures as low as were recorded at Birr, County Offaly on 23 June; however, the lowest air temperature recorded was 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 hours of sunshine recorded at Cork Airport, County Cork in June and 283 hours of sunshine at Rosslare, County Wexford in July. The sunniest day during the two months was on 25 June, when Malin Head, County Donegal, recorded 15.8 hours of sunshine.
Rainfall levels were quite low, with only of rain at Derrygreenagh, County Offaly and Fermoy, County Cork in June and of rain recorded at Merrion Square, Dublin in July. Parts of Munster and Leinster also recorded 21 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, was the warmest for 20 years and sunniest since 2000. was the sunniest on record, driest since 1995 and also one of the warmest. was the warmest on record, sunniest in 15 years and also driest since 1989. was average.
was the warmest on record. was the warmest in many places since 2001 and sunniest since 2000. was warmer and sunnier than usual. Overall, was the sunniest, driest and warmest summer since 1995 and one of the sunniest, driest and warmest on record. 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 2006With a monthly average of, KNMI statistics show July 2006 was the warmest-ever month on record for the Netherlands. Around 500 or 1,000 more people than usual died in July 2006.
The 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. The air-temperatures on the first day of the four-day march was about. Forecasts showed even higher temperatures of for the next day, causing the organisation to cancel the remainder of the event.
The highest temperature was recorded on 19 July, when temperatures reached the mid- to upper 30s °C for most of the country, especially in the south-east. The all-time record for the month of July was broken. Temperatures soared to. 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 was recorded on 19 July.
At some places especially in the south-east of the Netherlands temperatures passed for 15 or 16 days. The average daytime temperature for the month was again in the south-east of the Netherlands. The lowest daytime temperature was at some locations for the whole month of July. For two days the daytime temperatures were below, making 29 days with temperatures of and higher.
During days when temperatures reached 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, 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.