Western Europe Records Hottest June-July Period

Western Europe has recorded its hottest June-July period on record this summer, according to the European Union's climate change monitor. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the region’s average temperature over the two-month period was 21.62°C (70.9°F), which is 2.79°C above average and higher than the previous record set in 2022.

The intense heat has been fueled by persistent high-pressure systems that have trapped heat over the region, amplifying widespread drought conditions. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily. This phenomenon is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.

The extreme temperatures and prolonged drought have led to devastating wildfires across Western Europe. In France, a megafire burned nearly 42,000 hectares (103,785 acres) in southwestern France’s Gironde department in late July, forcing the evacuation of more than 220,000 people. Spain also experienced its largest wildfire in recent history, with almost 44,000 hectares (108,725 acres) scorched in Avila province near Madrid.

The heatwave has had significant impacts on water supplies and irrigation. Several rivers, including the Seine, Rhine, and Danube, experienced exceptionally low water levels. This led Hungary and Slovenia to operate their only nuclear power plants at reduced capacity due to a lack of cooling water. France and Spain also registered record levels of drought, further exacerbating the wildfire risks.

The highest sea surface temperatures on record outside the polar regions were recorded in July, with an average temperature of 20.96°C (69.7°F), slightly higher than the previous record set in 2023. This increase in sea surface temperatures has global implications and is partially fueled by developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific.

The U.K. and France are bracing for another heat wave, adding to an intense stretch of hot weather that has repeatedly sent temperatures soaring across Europe since May. National weather agency Météo-France warns about temperatures approaching 40°C (104°F) from Tuesday onward in southeastern France. In the U.K., an amber heat health alert for most of England will be in place beginning Tuesday as temperatures are forecast to climb to 36°C (96.8°F) later this week.

Across Europe, the extreme heat began in May and has contributed to major wildfires, prolonged drought, and new national temperature records, as well as thousands of projected heat-related deaths. Globally, so far this is the third-hottest year on record behind 2024 and 2025.

In France alone, heat wave alerts were issued for the first time on record in May, when more than half the country recorded new monthly temperature highs. The heat intensified in June, a period during which at least 5,700 more deaths than usual were recorded, according to France's public health agency. Météo-France said June 23 was the hottest day ever recorded in the country with temperatures climbing as high as 44.3°C (111.7°F) in the southwest.

The heat alert warns that significant impacts on health services, including a rise in deaths among older and vulnerable people, are likely. Two record-breaking heat waves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths linked to extreme temperatures. An 18-year-old died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Camber Sands beach in southern England on Sunday.

In Spain, firefighters were battling multiple blazes, including one that broke out on Friday in Tírig, Valencia, that has burned more than 3 square miles (8 square kilometers) and has involved more than 300 personnel and 21 aircraft to combat it. A separate wildfire in the southern Huelva region had affected a similar sized area since it broke out on Thursday.

The heatwave's impacts extend beyond Europe, with global sea surface temperatures reaching record highs. The average temperature of 20.96°C (69.7°F) in July surpassed the previous record set in 2023. This increase is partially attributed to developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific.

The U.K. and France are preparing for another heat wave, marking the fifth of the season. Météo-France warns of temperatures approaching 40°C (104°F) in southeastern France starting Tuesday. In the U.K., an amber heat health alert is in place for most of England as temperatures are expected to climb to 36°C (96.8°F). The prolonged heat has led to severe drought conditions, with half of England and all of Wales declared in drought.

The extreme weather has also resulted in a significant number of deaths. In France, more than 5,700 excess deaths were recorded in June alone. The U.K. has seen dozens of deaths related to open water incidents, including an 18-year-old who died at Camber Sands beach on Sunday.

Europe is heating up twice as fast as other continents due to a combination of factors including changed weather patterns, its closeness to the Arctic, less snow cover, and reduced air pollution. The continent is now 2.5°C hotter than before the mass burning of fossil fuels, almost double the global average rise of 1.4°C.

The rapid heating in Europe has led to more frequent and intense summer heatwaves, with temperatures rising by an average of 0.56°C per decade since the mid-1990s, compared to slower rates on other continents. Shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns have contributed to these extreme weather events.

The Arctic's rapid warming is a significant factor due to its proximity to Europe. The melting of polar ice, which normally reflects sunlight, has exposed darker ocean surfaces that absorb more heat, creating a vicious cycle of further warming. This phenomenon is particularly impactful in autumn and winter.