Western Europe recorded the hottest June in history, according to EU monitoring data

Scientists at the European Centre for Climate Monitoring confirmed that Western Europe experienced its warmest June on record. This followed an extreme heatwave at the end of the month, which led to power outages and the closure of educational institutions.

Global and Regional Indicators

According to the monthly bulletin from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the EU, June was the second warmest month globally. Furthermore, the planet registered the highest sea surface temperatures for the summer since records began.

The average temperature in Western Europe last month was 20.74 degrees Celsius (69.3 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding the average June figure for the 1991–2020 period by more than 3 degrees Celsius.

Definition of Western Europe

Copernicus defines the Western Europe region as the territory extending from Spain and the United Kingdom eastward to Italy, Germany, and parts of Austria. In recent months, Western Europe has faced three intense heatwaves, with Spain and Portugal currently under the influence of another such wave this week.

Climate Change Consequences

Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, noted that June 2026 highlighted profound climate changes. She stated that the result is increasingly severe heatwaves, persistently warm oceans, and growing risks to people, ecosystems, and infrastructure across Europe and beyond.

National authorities reported over 4,700 additional deaths in France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands during the June heatwave, with the total number of victims likely being higher in other countries. The intense heat also triggered wildfires on the Iberian Peninsula and in France, and exacerbated drought conditions.

Greenhouse Gas Influence

According to the World Meteorological Organization, greenhouse gas emissions, mainly linked to the burning of coal, oil, and gas, have raised the planet's average temperature by approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels of the 19th century. This elevated baseline allows temperatures to reach higher peaks during heatwaves.

Joeri Rogel, a climatologist from Imperial College London, emphasized the clear link between global warming and heatwaves: 'A hotter planet will have more heatwaves, and they will become more intense.'

Global Factors and Conclusions

C3S also indicated that besides climate change, other factors contributed to the record sea surface temperatures in June, including the development of a strong El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean. A scientific study conducted after the event found that El Niño did not affect the June heatwave in Europe, whereas climate change played a clear role in intensifying the extreme temperatures. C3S temperature records date back to 1940 and are cross-referenced with global data dating back to 1850.

noticiasaominuto.comJuly 9, 06:20

June is the hottest month in Western Europe, according to Copernicus analysis

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.