The analysis conducted by the Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates that June saw near-record temperatures in Western Europe, driven by unprecedented sea surface temperatures for the month, as disclosed in a statement.
Extreme Heatwaves
The Copernicus study, executed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), points out that the continent was affected by extreme heat both on land and at sea during the month. Much of Western Europe faced a record heatwave, as well as marine heatwaves in the Western Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts.
Temperature Records
In Western Europe, the average recorded temperature was 20.74 degrees Celsius (°C), representing an increase of 3.05 °C compared to the June average for the 1991-2020 period, surpassing the previous record set in June 2025. Globally, the previous month registered an average surface air temperature of 16.54°C, exceeding the 1991-2020 average by 0.56°C and ranking only behind June 2024.
Ocean Temperatures and Impacts
The monthly average sea surface temperature for the ocean exceeded previous levels, reaching 20.86°C and surpassing the June 2024 record by 0.01ºC. This increase partly reflects the development of strong El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific. Copernicus highlights that the June heatwave set monthly and historical temperature records in various European countries, contributing to serious health problems, including heat-related deaths, occurring just weeks after an intense heatwave in May.
Climate Consequences and Droughts
The service's deputy director emphasized that 'June 2026 underscored the depth of climate change.' Samantha Burgess observed that Western Europe experienced its hottest June in history, maintaining record warming in global oceans. She added that these records demonstrate a climate system that continues to accumulate heat, resulting in more intense heatwaves, a persistently warm ocean, and growing risks for populations, ecosystems, and infrastructure across Europe and beyond.
Regional Conditions and Sea Ice
Besides Western Europe, significant regions of Central and Eastern Europe, along with the south of the United Kingdom, recorded drier-than-average conditions. This is linked to the persistence of high pressures and heatwaves, increasing the risk of drought in parts of Eastern Europe and favoring forest fires, especially on the Iberian Peninsula. Regarding sea ice, the average monthly extent was about 5% below average in the Arctic and 8% below average in Antarctica, occupying the sixth place among the lowest percentages for the month in both areas.