European Seasonal and Annual Temperature Variability, Trends, and Extremes Since 1500

TLDR

European temperature trends are consistent with those observed across the Northern Hemisphere. Reconstruction indicates that late 20th‑ and early 21st‑century Europe is likely warmer than any period in the past 500 years, with 1500‑1900 winters about 0.5 °C cooler than the 20th century, while summer temperatures show no systematic cooling, and the coldest winter occurred in 1708/09 with 2003 being the hottest summer.

Abstract

Multiproxy reconstructions of monthly and seasonal surface temperature fields for Europe back to 1500 show that the late 20th- and early 21st-century European climate is very likely (>95% confidence level) warmer than that of any time during the past 500 years. This agrees with findings for the entire Northern Hemisphere. European winter average temperatures during the period 1500 to 1900 were reduced by approximately 0.5 degrees C (0.25 degrees C for annual mean temperatures) compared to the 20th century. Summer temperatures did not experience systematic century-scale cooling relative to present conditions. The coldest European winter was 1708/1709; 2003 was by far the hottest summer.