Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record
In Western Europe, this past June was the hottest on record since meteorological observations began. Such high temperatures had never been recorded in the region before.
This was reported by experts at the European Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). According to their data, last month set a new temperature record, once again confirming the intensification of climate change.
According to climatologists, the average temperature in Western Europe last month was 20.74°C, which is more than 3°C above the average for June during the 1991–2020 period.
In addition, June 2026 was the second-warmest June on record globally, and global ocean surface temperatures in June reached their highest level since records began.
“June 2026 has once again demonstrated just how rapidly the climate is changing. The consequences of this include increasingly intense heat waves, persistently high ocean temperatures, and growing risks to people, ecosystems, and infrastructure, both in Europe and beyond,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic director of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
It is noted that during the June heat wave, authorities reported more than 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands. The total number of such deaths in other countries is likely even higher. The intense heat also caused massive wildfires on the Iberian Peninsula and in France and exacerbated the drought.
According to climatologists, greenhouse gas emissions—primarily from the burning of coal, oil, and gas—have raised the planet’s average temperature by approximately 1.4°C compared to the pre-industrial era in the 19th century.
This was reported by Reuters.
Record-breaking heat in France is threatening wine production.
In France, officials estimate that the extreme heat may have caused more than 2,000 deaths in a single week. Preliminary estimates suggest that a significant number of these deaths may be directly linked to prolonged exposure to abnormally high temperatures.
