Overview:- The 2003 European heat wave was an extremely hot summer across Western and Central Europe.- It is estimated to have caused around 70,000 deaths across over a dozen countries, making it one of the deadliest heat waves on record.- The heat wave lasted from early June through mid-August 2003, with temperatures peaking in the first half of August.Temperature Extremes:- Many countries experienced their highest temperatures ever recorded during the heat wave.- France saw an unprecedented maximum temperature of 104.7°F (40.4°C) in Gard.- The United Kingdom hit 101.3°F (38.5°C), which at the time was its record high.- Switzerland recorded its national record of 107.0°F (41.5°C) in Grono.- Temperature records were also set in Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.Health Impacts:- The extreme and prolonged heat led to tens of thousands of deaths across Europe, especially among the elderly.- France was hit hardest, with nearly 15,000 excess deaths recorded during the peak heat.- Many victims were elderly people living in urban heat islands without sufficient air conditioning.- Hospitals were overwhelmed by heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and dehydration.Agricultural Damage:- The intense heat wave devastated crop yields across Europe that summer.- Lack of rainfall combined with extreme temperatures caused widespread drought conditions.- Around 30% of Europe's agricultural land was impacted, leading to over $15 billion in losses.Wildfire Impacts:- The hot, dry conditions contributed to an extremely severe wildfire season across Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy.- Over 650,000 hectares (1.6 million acres) of forest land burned in the fires that summer.- Portugal alone lost over 400,000 hectares of forests and brush to the wildfires.- Over a dozen lives were lost, and the fires caused billions more in damages across Europe.Environmental Effects:- Glaciers across the Swiss Alps experienced significant melting and retreat due to the heat wave.- Water shortages became severe with extremely low stream and river flows across many countries.- Air pollution and smog intensified, with tens of thousands of excess ozone pollution deaths estimated.