Western Europe sets new temperature record as heat waves pummel the region

Heat waves sweeping through Western Europe this summer have shattered the average temperature record for June-July, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. The intense heat, which began in May, has triggered devastating wildfires, prolonged drought, and set new national temperature records across the region, resulting in thousands of projected heat-related fatalities.

While globally 2026 is still on track to be the third-hottest year on record, behind 2024 and 2025, the potential for a record-breaking year remains high. This is due to the combined effects of human-induced global warming and a powerful El Nino event, which is causing significant temperature fluctuations around the world.

Last month witnessed the highest ever average sea surface temperature for July in the extra-polar oceans, or those free of seasonal sea ice, as reported by Copernicus. This was largely driven by the emergence of El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific. Consequently, the new average record for July stands at 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous 2023 record of 20.89 C (69.60 F).

In Western Europe, the average temperature record for the June-July period reached an unprecedented 21.62C (70.92 F). Persistent high-pressure systems trapped the heat over the continent, exacerbating the extreme temperatures. Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, explained that this is a clear illustration of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought reinforcing one another.