WMO warns extreme heat more frequent

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on August 11, 2026, that periods of extreme heat are becoming more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting due to climate change. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, John Kennedy, the WMO's head of climate information, noted that Europe is enduring its fifth heatwave of a summer marked by drought, wildfires, and record-breaking temperatures. He explained that persistent high-pressure systems across the Northern Hemisphere, combined with a warmer climate, are trapping warm air and blocking cooler air, allowing heat to build over large regions. Kennedy compared current conditions to the European summer of 1976, noting that similar atmospheric patterns then produced only isolated areas of above-average temperatures in a cooler world, whereas today much of the globe is experiencing above-average temperatures. He also highlighted that marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and waters west of Europe, along with dry soils, are amplifying the heat. El Niño–Southern Oscillation is not contributing this year, as tropical Pacific conditions are neutral. The WMO's comments come as several European countries face prolonged extreme heat, increasing pressure on water resources, agriculture, public health systems, and wildfire response efforts.