Intense Heat Waves Grip Historically Cool Nations of Sweden, Norway, and Finland in July
The sweltering heat triggered storms, lightning strikes, and wildfires, while hospitals struggled to cope with a surge in heat-related illnesses
In a stark sign of accelerating climate change, Sweden, Norway, and Finland — nations better known for their cool summers — faced unprecedented heat waves last month, with temperatures exceeding 30°C for several consecutive days. The extreme conditions took residents by surprise in regions far more accustomed to cold weather.
Driven by unusually warm waters off Norway’s northern coast and a persistent high-pressure system, temperatures in the Nordics rose 8–10°C above seasonal norms in mid-July. The sweltering heat triggered storms, lightning strikes, and wildfires, while hospitals struggled to cope with a surge in heat-related illnesses.
Finland endured 22 straight days above 30°C — its longest recorded heatwave. In Norway’s North Trøndelag county, where July temperatures usually average 13–18°C, the mercury topped 30°C for 13 consecutive days. Sweden’s Haparanda and Jokkmokk municipalities recorded 14 and 15 straight days of extreme heat, respectively — streaks unseen in more than a century.
According to a rapid attribution study by the World Weather Attribution group, the heatwave was 2°C hotter and at least 10 times more likely due to climate change. Scientists say it is the longest hot spell since records began in 1961, lasting 50% longer than the previous record.
“As climate change progresses, exceptionally severe heat waves will intensify,” warned Heikki Tuomenvirta of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. “They are occurring more frequently, are more severe, and last longer.”
The heat’s toll was evident not only in strained healthcare systems but also in unusual wildlife behavior — including reindeer seeking shade in urban areas.
“Climate change is fundamentally reshaping the world we live in,” said Clair Barnes of Imperial College London, one of the study’s authors. “Cold-climate countries are now experiencing unfamiliar levels of heat.”
Maja Vahlberg of the Swedish Red Cross cautioned that Nordic infrastructure was never designed for such extremes. “Our aging population is increasingly susceptible to dangerous heat,” she noted.
The writer of this article is Dr. Seema Javed, an environmentalist & a communications professional in the field of climate and energy
