Arctic vacation won't provide a chill vibe; instead, you'll be drenched in sweat
In the heart of summer, the Arctic's icy grip loosened, making cool, far-flung destinations like Norway, Sweden, and Finland vulnerable to heatwaves. A record-breaking heatwave in July 2025 brought persistent temperatures above 30°C (86°F) to these historically cool countries, with temperatures made approximately 2°C hotter and at least 10 times more likely due to human-caused climate change[1][2][3][4][5].
The heatwave had a profound impact on these nations. Overcrowded and overheated hospitals struggled, with some forced to cancel surgeries due to a lack of air conditioning designed for cold climates[1][2][4][5]. Hundreds of forest fires erupted, causing environmental damage, and toxic algal blooms contaminated seas and lakes[1][2][5]. Notably, reindeer in Scandinavia and Finland migrated into urban areas seeking shade, and some died from the heat[2][5].
Finland experienced 22 consecutive days over 30°C (86°F)—the longest on record in a historically cool region. Similarly long heatwaves occurred in northern Norway and Sweden, unprecedented in over 100 years[1][3][5].
The heatwave served as a stark reminder that even cold-climate countries now face unprecedented heat events due to global warming. It affected human health, infrastructure inadequately prepared for heat, local ecosystems, and indigenous livelihoods such as those of the Sámi people[1][4][5]. Without rapid fossil fuel reductions, such events could become five times more frequent by 2100[1].
Reindeer stopped grazing in some areas due to the heat, affecting the livelihoods of Sámi reindeer herders. The odds of a severe heatwave occurring so far north have about doubled since 2018. Extreme heat has struck countries more synonymous with snowy, frigid weather in the winter and cool summers, including Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
Drought is becoming a concern in the United Kingdom amid the repeat hot conditions. Erik Kjellström of the Swedish Meteorological Institute reported that drowning deaths spiked during July as people sought ways to cool off from the heat. Heat-related illnesses and even deaths spiked during the heatwave, particularly in northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway.
Mika Rantanen of the Finnish Meteorological Institute stated that this year's heatwave was a back-to-back blow, following the warmest summer in two millennia in the previous year. The heat wave was at least 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than it would have been without the effects of climate pollution.
Friederike Otto, a climate researcher at Imperial College London, stated that the Nordic heatwave should be taken as another reminder that no country is safe from climate change. Wildfires have erupted across Europe and Canada due to unusually high temperatures. The United Kingdom sweated through four significant heatwaves this summer, with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and 90s Fahrenheit.
References:
- Climate Central
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- NPR
- The New York Times
- The heatwave in cold-climate countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland, in 2025, was a direct result of human-caused climate change, making temperatures approximately 2°C hotter and at least 10 times more likely to occur[1][2][3][4][5].
- Climate change also had a significant impact on wildlife, with reindeer in Scandinavia and Finland migrating into urban areas seeking shade during the heatwave, and some dying from the heat[2][5].
- The heatwave in these historically cool regions served as a warning that even countries known for snowy and frigid weather are now vulnerable to extreme heat events due to global warming, and extreme heat has become a rising concern in Europe and Canada as well[1][4][5].
