Europe’s Record Heat in June-July Sets New Climate Benchmarks

The European climate agency, Copernicus, has reported that heat waves across Western Europe this summer have shattered the average temperature record for June and July, previously set in 2022. The extreme heat, which began in May, has led to extensive wildfires, prolonged droughts, and new national temperature records throughout the region. Additionally, the heat has been linked to thousands of anticipated heat-related fatalities.

Globally, the current year ranks as the third hottest, trailing only 2024 and 2025 in climate records. However, scientists suggest that 2026 still has the potential to become the hottest year recorded, potentially surpassing 2024. The intensified risk is due to both human-driven global warming and a significant El Niño event. El Niño is a periodic warming of certain parts of the Pacific Ocean, affecting global temperatures.

Copernicus further noted that last month experienced the highest average sea surface temperature ever recorded for July. This occurred across oceans without seasonal sea ice, driven in part by developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific. The new average record for July is 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the 2023 record of 20.89 degrees Celsius (69.60 degrees Fahrenheit).

In contrast, last month’s global surface air temperature averaged 16.90 degrees Celsius (62.42 degrees Fahrenheit), ranking as only the joint second warmest July on record, tied with July 2024.

Within Western Europe, the average temperature record for June and July reached 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.92 degrees Fahrenheit). Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, explained that persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat in the region. These extreme temperatures have also intensified widespread droughts. As the soil dries out, its ability to naturally cool diminishes, allowing heat to accumulate more easily. This situation highlights how climate change is exacerbating heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing each other.