Last July, temperatures went above 30°C inside the Arctic Circle. A new report shows that 95% of Europe had record-breaking heat last year. At the same time, a study in England found that hundreds of thousands of city homes are at risk from flooding.
The Arctic Circle is usually cold and snowy. But parts of Scandinavia had 21 days of very hot weather. At night, temperatures stayed high. Scientists call these "tropical nights." Most homes in Nordic countries have no air conditioning. This was very dangerous for older people and people with health problems.
The sea also got warmer. Sea temperatures in Europe reached the highest levels ever recorded. Warmer seas can make storms stronger. On land, big wildfires burned large areas of Europe. Many people had to leave their homes.
Scientists say a warmer planet holds more energy. This leads to longer heatwaves, more wildfires, and heavier rain. The heat in the Arctic and the floods in cities are connected by the same cause.
In England, the National Housing Federation (NHF) found that 839,000 homes in towns and cities are at risk of flooding. Eight out of ten high-risk homes are in city areas. Surface-water flooding happens when heavy rain falls faster than drains can carry it. Water then flows into streets and homes, even far from rivers.
The NHF says people in social housing are most at risk. They often have less money and fewer choices. When floods damage their belongings, it is very hard to recover.
Europe now faces danger from both heat and flooding. As the world gets warmer, extreme weather will happen more often. Korea has also seen stronger heatwaves and heavier floods in recent years. Tropical nights are now common in Korean summers too.