Copernicus Says Western Europe Sets June-July Temperature Record Amid Forest Fires, Drought

Western Europe set a new average temperature record for the June-July period, reaching 21.62°C, as the European climate agency Copernicus said the extreme heat began in May and contributed to large forest fires, a prolonged drought, and thousands of heat-related deaths.

“The new average temperature record for July is 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit)”

Cadena 3 Argentina

Copernicus reported that last month recorded the highest average temperature for a July on the surface of the oceans without seasonal sea ice, with a new average record for July of 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit) surpassing the previous record of 2023 at 20.89 C (69.60 F).

24 Heures

The global mean surface air temperature was 16.90°C (62.42 F) last month, making it the second hottest July on record, tied with July 2024, according to Copernicus.

Samantha Burgess, Head of Climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said, "Persistent high-pressure systems have trapped heat over Western Europe; extreme temperatures have also amplified widespread drought."

Burgess added, "This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, and how heat and drought reinforce each other," as the record-setting summer unfolded.

Copernicus linked the heat and drought to the double impact of accelerated human-caused global warming and an El Niño phenomenon, described as periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that causes temperature variations worldwide.

The Independent en Español reported that there is an ever-greater likelihood that 2026 could become the warmest year on record, surpassing 2024, as scientists said the El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific were developing.

ABC News

Anadolu Ajansı said Copernicus reported that Western Europe saw the third and fourth heatwaves since May, and that "Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record" with July bringing the third and fourth heatwaves.

France 24 quoted Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, warning, "We have not known a climate like this in our lifetimes, and perhaps not since the advent of our civilization," as the record summer continued.F

France 24 also said Copernicus noted that June and July rose to 21.62°C and that the world’s oceans reached record temperatures for the second consecutive month, with the global surface temperature of the seas reaching 20.96°C. F

As heat and drought intensified across Western Europe, CNBC TV18 described economic impacts already arriving in power production, shipping, and public health systems, while also saying the wildfire season was on track to be Europe's biggest ever.C

“"Take heatwaves, droughts, wildfires… these events are taking place at the same time and mostly in the same regions, compounding their impact,"”

CNBC TV18

CNBC TV18 quoted University of Mannheim economist Sehrish Usman saying, "Take heatwaves, droughts, wildfires… these events are taking place at the same time and mostly in the same regions, compounding their impact," as multiple extreme episodes hit together.C

The same analysis said Germany alone reported more than 10,000 heat-related deaths and that Allianz estimated the two-week June heatwave would cut the GDP of Europe by 0.3 percentage points.

France 24 reported direct consequences for water and energy, saying river flows were "exceptionally low," notably on the Seine, Rhine, and Danube, and that these low levels increased pressure on water supply, irrigation, aquatic ecosystems, river transport, and energy production.F

France 24 added that these conditions "favored exceptional wildfire activity in this region, in terms of both burned area and carbon emissions," citing about 42,000 hectares burned in Gironde and 44,000 hectares burned in the Avila province. F