Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record, according to data released on Monday, August 10th, 2026, by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The average temperature across the region for the two-month period reached 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.92 Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record set in 2022.

Copernicus attributed this to the "exceptional persistence of heat" in Western Europe, where four heatwaves have occurred since May. These high temperatures have contributed to prolonged drought, major wildfires, new national temperature records, and thousands of projected heat-related deaths.

Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which operates Copernicus, explained, "Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought." She added that as soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily. Burgess described this as "a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another."

Europe remains the fastest-warming continent globally, though temperature variations were noted, with eastern Europe and Scandinavia experiencing cooler conditions. For Europe as a whole, July 2026 was the 11th warmest on record, averaging 20.49 degrees Celsius (68.88 Fahrenheit).

Drier than average conditions were observed across large parts of Europe in July, including Spain and other areas of the Iberian Peninsula, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.

Copernicus also reported a record for global sea surface temperatures in July. Buontempo, a scientist referenced by Copernicus, said experts expect a new global average temperature record to be set either later this year or in early 2027.

The main driver for this warming is identified as greenhouse gases, underscoring the ongoing impact of climate change.

Sources