2018 was one of the three warmest years on record for Europe. It began with a relatively cold period across most of the region. Throughout the rest of the year, northern, central and western Europe experienced sustained warm and dry conditions, while the south, in particular areas along the Mediterranean coast, saw a long period of repeated heavy rainfall events, making spring and summer in those regions amongst the wettest on record. The content in this summary report builds on the latest measurements from satellites and in situ stations, on data from global ‘reanalyses’ - a combination of computer modelling and multiple historical data sources - and on model-based estimates.
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