Western Europe Records Hottest June-July on Record

Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record this summer, with the European Union's climate monitor reporting that average temperatures for the two-month period surpassed all previous highs. The Copernicus Climate Change Service announced on August 10, 2026, that the combined average temperature for western Europe in June and July was 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.9 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking the record set in 2022. This exceptional heat has been accompanied by severe drought, devastating wildfires, and significant disruptions to water supplies and energy production across the continent.

The record-breaking temperatures were part of a broader pattern of extreme heat. July 2026 was also the hottest month ever recorded for the world's non-polar oceans, with global average sea surface temperatures reaching 20.96 degrees Celsius. Scientists attribute the marine heatwaves, particularly in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, partly to a powerful El Niño pattern developing in the Pacific Ocean. This natural climate cycle temporarily raises ocean temperatures and can influence weather extremes globally, adding heat to a planet already warmed by human-caused climate change.