Western Europe Records Hottest June Ever Amid Heatwave

Scientists from the European Union reported on Thursday that Western Europe experienced the hottest June ever recorded. A severe heatwave at the end of the month pushed temperatures to record highs, causing disruptions to electricity supplies and school closures.

The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service stated in its monthly bulletin that last month was the second hottest June globally. It also recorded the highest sea surface temperatures for June since data collection began.

Data showed that the average temperature in Western Europe reached 20.74 degrees Celsius last month, exceeding the June average between 1991 and 2020 by more than three degrees Celsius.

Copernicus defines the region as extending from Spain and Britain eastward to Italy, Germany, and parts of Austria. Western Europe has experienced three intense heatwaves within three months, with countries such as Spain and Portugal facing another heatwave this week.

Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stated, "June 2026 highlights the depth of climate change, resulting in increasingly intense heatwaves, persistently warm oceans, and growing risks to populations, ecosystems, and infrastructure across Europe and beyond."

National authorities reported over 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands during June's heatwave, with total fatalities likely higher in other countries. The extreme heat also intensified wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula and France and worsened drought conditions.

The World Meteorological Organization noted that greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning coal, oil, and gas, have raised the planet's average temperature by approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from the 19th century.

This baseline increase means temperatures can now reach higher levels during heatwaves.

Jorry Rogelj, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, said, "The link between heatwaves and global warming is clear: as the planet warms, the frequency and severity of heatwaves increase."

Copernicus also identified other factors contributing to record sea surface temperatures in June, including the development of a strong El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean.

A scientific study concluded that El Niño did not contribute to the June heatwave in Europe, while climate change played a clear role in exacerbating extreme temperatures.

Copernicus temperature records date back to 1940 and are compared with global temperature records going back to 1850.