India, April 23 -- European waters were the warmest on record in 2023

Europe warmed at double the rate of the global average, making it the fastest-warming continent in 2023, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization.

The year was the second-warmest for Europe, with average temperatures 1.02-1.12 degrees Celsius above the normal for 1991-2020 reference period. This is about 0.13-0.17degC cooler than the average temperature experienced in 2020, the continent's warmest year on record, the findings showed.

Some parts of eastern Europe, however, were warmer by up to 2.6degC compared to the pre-industrial period, making 2023 the joint-warmest year along with 2020. "Parts of the Alps were up to 2.3degC above average,...