A new report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirms Western Europe endured its hottest June on record in 2026. Globally, it was the second-hottest June ever recorded.
The extreme heat triggered massive wildfires and deadly consequences. In southern France, blazes scorched over 11,000 acres, forcing 10,000 evacuations. French officials reported roughly 1,000 excess deaths from heat exposure, many among the elderly.
The World Health Organization reported more than 1,300 heat-related deaths across Europe since June 21st. The UK also broke its own June temperature records.
Experts link the intensified heat to the El Niño climate pattern, which is expected to increase global temperatures and extreme weather risks for months to come.