5 years ago: 2003 European Heat Wave

[HurricaneBill]

Around this time, 5 years ago, Europe was in the grip of a terrible heat wave.

2003 European Heat Wave

As is usually the case with figures, the death toll varies from different sources. However, the generally accepted death toll is at least 35,000.

The number of heat-related deaths:
France: 14,802
Germany: 7,000
Spain: 4,230
Italy: 4,175
United Kingdom: 2,139
Netherlands: 1,400
Portugal: 1,316
Switzerland: 1,039
Croatia: 788
Czech Republic: 418
Austria: 345
Slovenia: 289
Luxembourg: 170
Belgium: 150
Algeria: 40

Total: 38,301

Along with the heat wave, many parts of Europe suffered from drought, fires, and crop shortages.

Overall damages attributed to the heat wave:
France: $4.4 billion USD
Italy: $4.4 billion USD
Germany: $1.65 billion USD
Spain: $880 million USD
Austria: $280 million USD
Switzerland: $280 million USD
Slovakia: $150 million USD
Slovenia: $80 million USD

Total: $12.12 billion USD

[KWT]

That was a crazy heatwave for the UK, we broke our heat record on the 6th of August which was amazing...only to break it again by a fair way just 4 days later on the 10th by hitting 100 degrees and it didn't help that it was really humid as well.