June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe and the second warmest globally, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The exceptional temperatures were driven by record-breaking sea surface temperatures, which reached their highest levels ever observed for the month and contributed significantly to increased atmospheric heat.
The heatwave extended into July and continues to affect large parts of Europe, fuelling devastating wildfires in France and across the Iberian Peninsula. In Barcelona, the Fabra Observatory recorded 40.5°C on 8 July, the highest temperature measured in more than a century of observations. In France, authorities issued heat alerts and warnings over the heightened wildfire risk linked to drought conditions and low humidity.
Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged as a result of climate change. Over the past 50 years, Europe has warmed by around 2°C, making it the fastest-warming continent. Experts warn that events such as the current heatwave are consistent with scientific projections for a changing climate.
During June, Western Europe experienced both land-based and marine heatwaves. The western Mediterranean and parts of the Atlantic coastline recorded exceptionally high ocean temperatures. Globally, the average sea surface temperature reached its highest June value on record, narrowly surpassing the previous record set in 2024.
Heat records broken
Extreme heat shattered records across numerous European countries.
Germany recorded temperatures of up to 41.7°C, with hundreds of weather stations reporting all-time highs.
France registered a record national average temperature of 30°C in a single day, while Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Czechia and Denmark also set new June temperature records.
In addition to soaring temperatures, the combination of extreme heat and limited rainfall worsened drought conditions across large parts of Europe, increasing the risk of wildfires. The heatwave also had significant public health impacts, including heat-related deaths. Experts stress that unusually high nighttime temperatures are especially dangerous because they prevent the body from recovering after prolonged periods of intense heat.
In response, the WMO, together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners, is strengthening early warning systems and heat action plans to protect vulnerable populations. The United Nations has called for greater international cooperation to address the growing threat of extreme heat, emphasising that climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are becoming increasingly urgent.