European heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis, scientists say

The Met Office has extended its red heat-health alert by 24 hours, to 11pm on Friday. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The heatwave scorching western Europe is the most severe and widespread ever and is only possible due to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning, scientists have said.

Almost half of Europe’s 850 largest cities are also enduring their worst ever heat stress, a combination of temperature and humidity, they found. Muggier conditions mean sweating is less effective at cooling the body, making heatwaves even more dangerous.