Western Europe has endured its hottest June and July on record, as climate change drives an unprecedented summer defined by intense heat, persistent drought, and widespread wildfires. The EU's global warming monitor, the Copernicus Climate Change Service, reported on Monday that the combined average temperature for the region during these two months reached 21.62C, surpassing the previous record set in 2022.
This data reflects what Copernicus described as the "exceptional persistence of heat" throughout the summer so far.
As the world's fastest-warming continent, Europe has been subjected to a series of consecutive heatwaves and scorching temperatures. Copernicus added that soil moisture levels were "significantly lower" than in July 2022, when the last severe drought gripped the region.
Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which operates Copernicus, stated that this is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.
Very dry conditions were observed throughout July across western and central European nations, including France, Spain, Austria, and Hungary, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and parts of Iceland. These conditions have led to unusually low river flows, with the Seine, Rhine, and Danube rivers being particularly affected. Consequently, transport, irrigation, and energy production have been impacted in several European countries.
The hot and dry environment has also created ideal conditions for fires, and scientists note that the frequency of extreme fire-prone weather in Europe is increasing due to climate change. France and Spain have battled their worst infernos in living memory this summer, while other nations in Europe, as well as the US northwest and Canada, have also experienced serious blazes.
Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming, primarily caused by burning coal, oil, and gas, and they warn that these events are set to become more frequent, longer, and more intense. Beyond land temperatures, Copernicus reported that the world's oceans hit record-high temperatures for a second straight month in July, driven by marine heatwaves around Europe and a powerful El Nino taking shape in the Pacific.
Global average sea surface temperatures in July reached 20.96C, beating the previous record set in 2023.
Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo noted that while parts of the Mediterranean and Atlantic were unusually warm, the developing El Nino is likely the driving force behind the record sea temperatures. Speaking to reporters on August 5, the climate scientist described the El Nino as a very large event, possibly unprecedented in terms of amplitude, noting that the contribution from the tropical Pacific is becoming quite important.
El Nino is the warm phase of a natural climate cycle that temporarily raises ocean temperatures and can influence weather extremes like drought and floods globally.
It adds heat to a planet already warmed by fossil fuels and typically peaks at the end of a year, pushing up global temperatures. The last El Nino helped make 2023 and 2024 the second- and first-hottest years on record, respectively. Buontempo said scientists expect a new record for global average temperatures later this year or early 2027.
Globally, last month was the joint second-warmest July on record, with an average surface air temperature 1.47C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial benchmark. Buontempo emphasized that the last 11 years have been the hottest on record, stating that we have not seen a climate that warm during our lifetime, and very possibly our civilisation. He reiterated that the main driver for this warming is greenhouse gases.
Oceans absorb most of the excess heat caused by humanity's carbon emissions, playing a key role in regulating the climate. Hotter seas can have damaging knock-on effects, such as fueling stronger storms and rainfall and bleaching coral reefs. Copernicus takes measurements using billions of satellite and weather readings, both on land and at sea, with data extending back to 1940.
