This Region Just Had Its Hottest June Ever
Key Points:
- Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, with temperatures about 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit above recent norms, surpassing last year's record, according to the EU's Copernicus climate service.
- France recorded its hottest nationwide day ever—not just for June but any month—on three separate days, with other countries like England, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland also breaking June temperature records.
- Globally, June 2026 was the second warmest on record, with the planet approximately 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than preindustrial levels, indicating ongoing climate warming and increased risks to people and infrastructure.
- Scientists attribute the extreme heat to human-driven climate change, which has significantly increased the likelihood of such events, as evidenced by roughly 1,000 excess deaths in France over three days and an estimated total of over 2,700 heat-related deaths for the month.
- The Weather Channel warns that Europe may face additional heat domes this summer, signaling continued challenges from extreme heat events.