Western Europe sets new temperature record as heat waves hit region
Key Points:
- Western Europe experienced record-breaking average temperatures for the June-July period in 2026, surpassing the previous record set in 2022, driven by persistent heat waves starting in May.
- The extreme heat has led to major wildfires, prolonged drought, new national temperature records, and thousands of projected heat-related deaths across the region.
- Globally, 2026 is currently the third-hottest year on record, with a strong likelihood of becoming the hottest due to accelerated human-caused global warming combined with a strong El Niño event.
- July 2026 saw the highest average sea surface temperature ever recorded for extra-polar oceans at 20.96°C, surpassing the 2023 record, although the global average surface air temperature for July was only the joint second warmest.
- Experts highlight that persistent high-pressure systems and drying soils in Western Europe are intensifying heat extremes and drought, illustrating the compounding effects of climate change on regional weather patterns.