Western Europe experienced hottest June-July on record: EU monitor

Western Europe endured its hottest June-July on record, according to the EU's monitoring agency. The combined average temperature for the two months reached 21.62 degrees Celsius, surpassing the 2022 record. Climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with Europe being the world's fastest-warming continent. The first two months of summer have witnessed successive heatwaves, scorching temperatures, and dry conditions.

Copernicus Climate Change Service noted that soil moisture was significantly lower than in July 2022, when a severe drought affected the region. River flows were unusually low, impacting transport, irrigation, and energy production in several European countries. Fires were rampant, with France, Spain, Austria, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and part of Iceland experiencing their worst infernos in recent memory.

The world's oceans also hit record-high temperatures in July, fueled by marine heatwaves and a developing El Nino in the Pacific. Scientists expect a new record for global average temperatures later this year or early 2027.