Record July heat affects regions home to 900 million people
Around 900 million people lived through their hottest July on record in 2026, with extreme temperatures affecting parts of Africa, Europe, Central America and other regions. An analysis of Copernicus climate data found that 33 countries recorded their highest July temperatures since records began. Nearly 400 million people in the affected areas live across Africa, […]
Around 900 million people experienced their hottest July on record in 2026. The extreme temperatures affected various regions, including Africa, Europe, and Central America. According to an analysis of Copernicus climate data, 33 countries recorded their highest July temperatures since records began.
Nearly 400 million people in the affected areas live in Africa, primarily within the Sahel region. The Sahel region was more than 2C above average, according to Free Malaysia Today. The data used for the analysis was obtained from the European Copernicus programme, which combines observations from satellites, weather stations, and climate modelling.
Some countries with well-resourced national weather agencies, including France and Spain, independently confirmed record-breaking conditions. However, many lower-income countries do not publish detailed climate data, making it necessary for AFP to complement the global picture by independently analysing data from Copernicus.
Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Free Malaysia Today — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
