Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record this summer, surpassing the previous average temperature record set in 2022, according to the European climate agency Copernicus.
Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over the region, amplifying a widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their capacity for natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily. This dynamic showcases how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another, said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The extreme heat began in May and has contributed to significant wildfires, prolonged drought conditions, and new national temperature records across Western Europe. These conditions have also been linked to thousands of projected heat-related deaths.
Globally, the year so far ranks as the third hottest on record. Scientists suggest that with the combined influence of accelerated human-caused global warming and a developing El Niño, there is an increasing possibility that the current year could become the hottest on record, potentially surpassing 2024.
Last month, the average sea surface temperature across extra-polar oceans also reached a new record for July. This warming was partially fueled by El Niño conditions developing in the equatorial Pacific. The new average record for July sea surface temperature is 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding the previous record of 20.89 C (69.60 F) set in 2023. However, the global average surface air temperature for last month was 16.90°C (62.42 F), making it the second warmest July on record, tied with July 2024.