#6: European Heat Wave

At least 35,000 people died in the 2003 European heat wave that included the then-hottest August on record in the northern hemisphere. Because most of Western Europe experiences mild summer temperatures, many homes did not have air conditioning and many people were unaware of the precautions they should take during extreme weather. France suffered the worst, with more than 14,000 deaths alone. Breathing conditions were further inhibited by smog and smoke from forest fires.