In Pictures

Gallery|Climate Crisis

Sweltering weather causes problems across Europe

One of the driest starts to summer has caused water shortages, crop problems and serious wildfires across the continent.

Europe summer
The prolonged dry weather has threatened summer crops in many countries. [Alexander Becher/EPA]
Published On 21 Jul 2018

It has been an exceptional summer with the UK seeing its driest start to the season in 57 years.

A ‘green and pleasant land’, is now brown and dusty, despite rain over the past few days.

Across Europe, the heat has been punctuated by extreme thunderstorm activity, currently residing across northern parts of Italy.

The hot, dry weather has also hit Scandinavia with temperatures reaching as high as 33 degrees Celsius inside the Arctic Circle.

The drought across Norway, Sweden and Finland has brought scores of wildfires. In Sweden, there are serious shortages of grazing for cattle.

Summer in Europe
Much of Scandinavia is experiencing drought and exceptionally high temperatures. [Erik Schroeder/EPA]
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Europe summer
A man naps as the summer heat grips Belgrade, Serbia. [Koca Sulejmanovic/EPA-EFE]
Europe summer
A shortage of grazing is causing serious problems for farmers. [Maja Suslin/EPA-EFE]
Summer in Europe
Irrigation is being used in many countries to prevent crops from failing. [Koen Van Wee/EPA-EFE]
Summer Europe
Even the lush Swiss countryside is turning brown as the warm weather continues. [Ennio Leanza/EPA-EFE]
Europe summer
Temperatures in Vaasa, Finland on the Gulf of Bothnia coast, have reached 33C in recent days. [Mikko Stig/AFP]
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Summer Europe
The Devon coast is pictured as the UK enjoys the driest start to summer in 57 years. [John Wilkes]