Summer 2025: A season of climate extremes unfolds

According to climate experts, such intensification of weather events is a direct result of accelerating climate change. Sonia Seneviratne of ETH Zurich and the IPCC highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of both heat and rainfall events globally. Fred Hattermann from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research adds that 2024 marked the first year the planet’s average surface temperature exceeded 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels—a shift fueling extreme weather.

This slight rise in global temperature significantly amplifies the risks of evaporation, leading to heavier rainfall and catastrophic flooding. “With every increment of temperature rise, the risk of more and stronger extremes increases,” warns Hattermann.

Gulf and Turkey scorch under record heat

In the Gulf region, the mercury has soared past 50°C repeatedly this summer. The UAE recorded a searing 51.8°C on August 1, nearing its all-time high. Riyadh, Kuwait, and Iraq have seen persistent 50°C days, straining power grids and shrinking water reserves.

For the first time, Turkey saw temperatures exceed 50°C, with the town of Silopi hitting 50.5°C on July 26. The country is simultaneously grappling with severe drought and thousands of wildfires.

Asia sees historic rain and heat

Japan broke its national temperature record this week with 41.8°C in Isesaki, northwest of Tokyo. The heat is altering ecosystems too — Japan’s iconic cherry trees are blooming earlier than ever.

In Hong Kong, August 6 brought the heaviest rainfall in over 140 years — 35.5 cm in just one day. A week earlier in mainland China, deadly floods claimed at least 44 lives north of Beijing.

Pakistan floods, northern Europe bakes

In Pakistan, “unusual” monsoon rains have already killed 266 people — nearly half of them children. Punjab province recorded 73% more rainfall in July compared to last year, triggering widespread flooding.

Meanwhile, Scandinavia, typically a refuge from summer heat, has seen Mediterranean-like temperatures. Finland experienced a record 22 consecutive days above 30°C. In Rovaniemi, north of the Arctic Circle, it reached 30°C — hotter than much of southern Europe at the time.

Canada and beyond: Firestorms engulf forests

Canada is enduring one of its worst wildfire seasons in history, driven by high temperatures and long-term drought. Similar wildfires have erupted in Scotland, Arizona, and Greece.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service notes that smoke and greenhouse gas emissions from these fires are among the highest ever recorded for a northern hemisphere summer.

Conclusion

Summer 2025 has emerged as a stark reminder of the accelerating climate crisis. As scientists have long warned, global warming is no longer a future threat — it is a present and worsening reality reshaping our world.