The average sea surface temperature in July 2026 reached the highest level ever recorded, according to data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The global average temperature was 20.96°C, surpassing the previous record of 20.89°C set in 2023.
This result was published on Tuesday, August 10, and is primarily linked to the abnormal warming of vast areas of the tropical Pacific Ocean, where El Niño-related conditions are already present. The European service forecasts an intensification of this phenomenon in the coming months.
In Europe, the situation was also characterized by extreme ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves, and impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems. In the western part of the continent, the period between June and July was the hottest on record, accompanied by drought, low soil moisture, and a significant reduction in river flow.
The sea temperature record is set within a broader context of exceptional heat. Although July was the second hottest month globally in terms of air temperature, the figure of 16.90°C was almost on par with July 2025 and below the 2023 record. Nevertheless, the monthly average was 1.47°C above the pre-industrial level estimated for the 1850–1900 period. This fact underscores the global scale of the event, which was not limited only to sea surface temperature.
The tropical Pacific Ocean played a crucial role in this result. The El Niño-related conditions present there, according to Copernicus forecasts, are expected to intensify in the following months.
In the European zone, the warming of the Atlantic and Western Mediterranean was associated with intense marine heatwaves. This phenomenon affected coastal areas and impacted the populations and ecosystems of these regions. In Western Europe, the average temperature between June and July reached 21.62°C, exceeding the previous mark of 2022 by 2.79°C. During this period, successive heatwaves coincided with a drought that began in May.
France, Spain, parts of Germany, and the United Kingdom recorded exceptionally low levels of precipitation and soil moisture. The combination of heat and water scarcity also affected river systems. According to the Copernicus bulletin, rivers in the affected areas had significantly reduced flow or extremely low levels. This situation led to consequences for water supply, agricultural irrigation, and energy generation in various countries, with particular impacts on the Seine, Rhine, and Danube rivers.
Samantha Burgess of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts linked the European situation to the persistence of high-pressure systems, which contributed to heat concentration. In her assessment, soil desiccation reduces the natural ability of these surfaces to moderate temperature. The expert also pointed to the reinforcing link between extreme heat and drought in the context of climate change: rising temperatures promote drier conditions, while loss of soil moisture reduces natural cooling.
Another aspect noted by the European service was the occurrence of exceptional forest fires in Western Europe in July. According to Lawrence Ruil, Director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, the area affected by fires and the volume of emissions reached unusual levels. Ruil linked climate change conducive conditions to the emergence of larger and more intense fires in Southern Europe. This scenario may also extend the season of fire-prone conditions towards northern regions of the continent.
Emitted smoke also represents a factor of regional dispersion. Large fires release large volumes of particles and gases into the upper layers of the atmosphere, allowing these pollutants to be transported over long distances and reach countries with relatively few ignition points. Thus, the July data presents a picture where various climatic extremes are interconnected: the ocean temperature record occurred concurrently with extreme heat across the European continent, drought, reduced water availability, and intense wildfire activity.
