Climate: 2026 set to be the hottest June on record for Western Europe
Sea and land surface temperatures, which have never been this high, have caused heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, with serious consequences for health and the environment
June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe and the second hottest globally. It saw near-record temperatures, driven by sea surface temperatures that were the highest ever recorded for the month. This is according to the European Union’s Earth observation programme, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
Record-breaking heat and deaths
In June, Europe was hit by extreme heat both on land and at sea, particularly in the west. The heatwave broke monthly and all-time temperature records in several European countries and contributed to serious health impacts, including heat-related deaths.
Extreme heat and dry soil have exacerbated the drought conditions that began to develop during the heatwave in May and have contributed to the spread of forest fires, particularly on the Iberian Peninsula and in the south of France, and to an increased risk of drought in some parts of Eastern Europe.
Evidence of climate change
“June 2026 highlighted just how profoundly the climate is changing,” said Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the ECMWF. “Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, whilst the global ocean continued to hold record-breaking heat. Taken together, these findings reflect a climate system that continues to accumulate heat. The result is increasingly intense heatwaves, a consistently warm ocean and growing risks to people, ecosystems and infrastructure across Europe and beyond.”
