In 2026 Western Europe experienced a record-hot June
In 2026 Western Europe experienced a record-hot June.
This is reported by The Guardian citing data from the EU climate monitoring service Copernicus.
According to scientists, the deadly June heat wave, intensified by carbon emissions, caused surface air temperatures in the region to exceed the average of recent decades by 3.06 °C.
According to the agency, globally, June 2026 was 0.56 °C warmer than the average for the 1991–2020 period and 1.39 °C warmer than the pre-industrial level, making it the second warmest June on record.
The planet's oceans were warmer than scientists have ever seen.
“Taken together, these records show that the climate system continues to accumulate heat. The consequence of this is increasingly intense heat waves, a consistently warm ocean, and growing risks to people, ecosystems, and infrastructure,” noted Samantha Burgess, a climatologist from Copernicus.
Western Europe is facing its third heat wave in six weeks, and widespread drought is causing small forest fires to turn into uncontrolled fires. According to Copernicus, the latest heat wave illustrates the “growing problem” associated with intensifying extreme temperatures.
In recent days, raging fires have devastated vast areas of southern Europe. Data published on Tuesday indicate that forest fires in the EU have destroyed 56% more territory than usual.
The area engulfed by flames is four times the average for this time of year in France, where 35,400 hectares burned, and twice the average in Spain, where 55,128 hectares burned, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System.
