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Marine heatwave warms European coasts up to 6°C

8/19/2026

30 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ireland and European coasts saw a marine heatwave this summer with waters up to 6 °C above normal.
The study said climate breakdown caused two-thirds of the heat, warming the Mediterranean by ~2 °C, the Bay of Biscay/Iberian Peninsula by 1.4 °C, and raising rainfall by 20-30 %.
Heatwaves affected 90 % of the Bay of Biscay/Iberian coast and 80 % of the Mediterranean, while without the heating coverage would have been only 9 % and 30 %.

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Story summary

Ireland and European coasts saw a marine heatwave this summer with waters up to 6 °C above normal.
The study said climate breakdown caused two-thirds of the heat, warming the Mediterranean by ~2 °C, the Bay of Biscay/Iberian Peninsula by 1.4 °C, and raising rainfall by 20-30 %.
Heatwaves affected 90 % of the Bay of Biscay/Iberian coast and 80 % of the Mediterranean, while without the heating coverage would have been only 9 % and 30 %.