June 2026 was the hottest ever recorded in western Europe and the second-warmest globally, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Land temperatures were 1.39°C above the estimated pre-industrial average.
The record-breaking heat coincided with the warmest June sea surface temperatures ever observed. Scientists attribute the ocean warmth partly to strengthening El Niño conditions, but human-driven climate change remains the dominant factor.
"Together, these records reflect a climate system continuing to accumulate heat. The result is increasingly intense heatwaves, a persistently warm ocean, and growing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure," said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF.
Western and central Europe experienced an intense late-June heatwave that shattered monthly and all-time temperature records. The rapid succession of major heatwaves this season suggests extreme heat is becoming a prolonged feature of European summers.
The impacts include increased wildfire activity, reduced river flows, and intensified drought, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula and southern France, which threatens food production.
Climate experts warn these records demonstrate a climate system storing increasing amounts of heat. Dr. William Lamb of the Potsdam Institute noted human activities pushed warming to 1.37°C in 2025, with global temperatures projected to surpass 1.5°C in about four years.
"Our study shows greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. Climate impacts already cost billions to Europe's economy," Lamb said.
In response, the European Commission has pledged to pivot from climate mitigation to climate adaptation after 1,300 deaths were linked to Europe's recent heatwaves.