New Delhi, April 15 -- The year 2024 was the warmest on record in Europe, with the climate seeing a pronounced east-west contrast: Extremely dry and often record-warm conditions were prevalent in the east while the west saw more warm but wet conditions, according to The European State of the Climate 2024.

The temperature rise has been unequal, with eastern and southern Europe bearing much of the brunt. The warming trend was seen in other parts of the continent too. Other areas have generally seen above-average temperatures for the year, barring Iceland and parts of Greenland which were the only areas with cooler than average temperature.

Overall, 45 per cent of days in the continent in 2024 were much warmer than average and 12 per cent ...